The flowering dogwood tree goes by the scientific name of Cornus Florida.The dogwood flower serves as the state flower of both North Carolina, Missouri as well as Virginia. The dogwood trees are the state tree of Virginia as well.Dogwood is rather an amusing name for a tree. Although, that was not always its name. In Europe, the flowering dogwood tree was originally called a Whippletree. From there, it evolved to dog-tree, until finally, we have today’s dogwood tree. That is not the only thing interesting about these flowering trees. The petals seen on the large flowers are only part of the green leaves, which are modified, and known as bracts. Someone who is not well versed with these flowers might even confuse them with lilacs or hydrangeas. The American dogwood tree is of the deciduous kind. This means it bears flowers and fruits seasonally, only once in the year. There are different types of flowering dogwood trees, and if you wish to have one in your backyard, it is advisable to do your research beforehand since each kind has different requirements. From Wonderberry to Cherokee Chief and Wolf Eyes, there are tons of variants between the Cornus Florida and Cornus Kousa itself. Even hybrid flowering dogwood can be found.You can never know too much. To quench that thirst, you can also check out Alabama state flowers and trees, and Mexican Christmas flowers to add to your wisdom.Dogwood PruningPruning has to take place at least every 5-10 years, to keep the dogwood flowers blossoming.Typically dogwoods will not require much care, needing pruning only so rarely. Although, some measure of pruning, as well as trimming, is essential to keep the tree growing healthy and the flowers blooming pretty. Dogwood trees will not usually grow to a ghastly size, even if you leave them alone. So, pruning is done to take care of any dead limbs or old bloom, which is practically a waste of the tree’s energy. By snipping an old bloom, the blooms of the next year will be bigger and more colorful. There are, of course, sometimes alarming cases of pest infections, which will require immediate action to keep the tree well. Even with trimming, every third or fourth year will be enough to rejuvenate the tree with new life.Getting ignorant about the timing of pruning is not an option though. For the best of the tree, pruning should be done somewhere between late fall to early winter. The reason is, during this time, the tree remains dormant. Say, for example, if the same pruning were conducted during the summer or spring, the tree would be exposed to a multitude of insects. Think of it as getting an infection on an open wound. There are many ways to track down the limb that needs to be let go. One sign is getting discolored. Sometimes, crossing branches can also create an insect colony in your trees. The ideal time for snipping off the old buds likewise is late spring or early summer at the very latest.With time, the tools to aid have changed as well. Tree pruning sealers are now a thing of the past. Pruning shears are now preferred for such jobs. Even an anvil pruner does the job just fine. In the case of those challenging branches, an extension tree saw will come to aid. An ample amount of homework is suggested before pruning for beginners.Flowering Dogwood Trees & ShrubsDogwood shrubs serve better in small gardens, where the landscape is too small for a flowering dogwood tree.While Cornus Florida is deciduous, belonging to the same family Cornus, shrubs bring treats you can look forward to through the year. From the flowers to berries, and an excellent fall color to marvel at, these shrubs can make anyone’s garden feel bountiful. One thing that separates the trees and shrubs sharply is the absence of any bracts on the latter. Instead of pale red flowers though, you can enjoy bold red stems which shine beautifully against the sunlight. Various types of dogwood shrubs sport different shades of flower color. Like the trees, dogwood shrubs are also best planted in the late spring.In terms of berries and flowers, dogwood trees are more, if not an equal showstopper. Green flowers are a rarity in nature. Cornus Kousa brings forth this unique flower, which also bears red berries. The fall foliage of the tree is even more breathtaking at times. Against the larger orange and brown palette of fall color, this tree showcases scarlet and purple leaves. Here is something pictures will not speak. A dogwood tree is just like your baby. Sometimes, depending on the water and nutrients received, they may possess a strong fragrance, though it is not altogether unpleasant.Within the dogwood genus or the Cornus genus, there are as many as fifty different species, Cornus Florida being one of the really common ones.Best Places To See Flowering DogwoodsFlowering dogwood can be largely found spread over North-Eastern America.Even though the tree is associated with Christianity, it is not found in the originating place of Christianity, that is, the Middle East. Instead, Cornus Florida is very common in North-Eastern America. There, you can see it in many backyards, in a range of different colors, from pink flowers to white flowers, and others. Legend says George Washington himself had the Cornus Florida in his backyard. Although, if you do wish to visually feast on them, you have to visit between the early spring to the late spring. Flowering dogwood is deciduous, so the flower buds appear around late winter and they are in full bloom till early summer. Some of the places known to be famous for spring dogwoods include Siloam Springs and Deer Mountain in North America.However, if you are more into fall foliage, these trees will certainly catch your fancy even if you visit during the time of autumn. There is more to this story. While flowering dogwood is deciduous, there is something called an evergreen dogwood tree. These are found in Australia and bear dark green leaves with pretty flowers all year round. So, Australia might be a more suitable option for those who cannot plan an early or late spring visit to the States. Red bracts cannot be found in the range of flower color. Small greenish-yellow flowers slowly mature into a creamy white, to finally take the hue of faint pink.Dogwood SymbolismFlowering dogwood is associated with Christianity as a past legend.The story went, flowering dogwood trees were once as big as Oak trees, and were used for the cross where Jesus was crucified. Since then, God cursed and blessed the dogwood trees, to never be able to grow as tall, remaining as a small tree but bear beautiful flowers just before Easter. Hence, dogwoods, in general, are often associated with rebirth. The flowers often at their tips, bear a cut that looks like a nail dent and have four petals like the cross. Victorians even worshipped the flower for different purposes.Have you ever heard of floriography? It is the language of flowers. Under this, each flower will have a different meaning depending on its color and type. For instance, purity and innocence are associated with the white flowers. On the other hand, something like a Cherokee chief with its bright red color denotes love and passion. Similarly, orange dogwood flowers symbolize happiness and positive energy. Like the red flowers, the pink flowers also signify love and romance, their meaning almost being interchangeable here. Since purple is a rather rare color, the reddish-purple ones stand for beauty, elegance, and even mystery. So, depending on the message one desires to convey through the flowers, they can choose a color of dogwood accordingly to plant in their garden. Since the flower or tree as a whole is associated with Christianity, flowering dogwood tattoos also indicate some type of spiritual rebirth.In the old days, Native Americans would use the bark from this tree to use for medicinal purposes. The tree is also used for woodworking.Flowering dogwood is not typically given out as a gift to anybody, the tree often being found in the backyards in North America. However, as dogwood flowers symbolize endurance and durability, gifting it to someone would indicate your support and hope for the person going through troubled times. Although to mark a religious milestone, this flower can be occasionally used. For example, since they bloom in early spring, right before the festive Easter time, you can make good use of the flowers then.Dogwood CareWhile care will differ depending on the type of flowering dogwood, Cornus Florida does well with bright, sunny summers with partial shade.Caring for Cornus Florida should begin from an early age, even before you plant them as saplings. The roots should be kept moist with the material provided before planting to ensure good growth. Growing in North-Eastern America with tall trees, dogwood has adapted itself to maintain an average height as a small tree and learned to thrive in partial shade. Since the roots are shallow, the trees require just the right amount of water, which can be achieved by regularly, and slowly watering the plant, which helps the water to penetrate the soil better. The soil should not be over a foot from the base of the plant. The choice of soil is also crucial for these trees. The tree needs the nutrients, so the soil can use mulch or other organic matter. Moreover, the soil should be neither too dry, nor wet for the tree to bloom flowers every year. Wet soil might even lead to bacterial or fungal troubles especially anthracnose. Beware of pests like powdery mildew or dogwood borer. Although dogwoods are fairly low maintenance and do not need pest control if taken care of regularly, serious pest problems call for pesticides. There is an easy way to tell how much water a tree needs. If the leaves look prickly and light green, keep the water flowing, and if the leaves seem droopy and greyish, the tap should be closed.Trees are also required to be pruned occasionally to be in their best shape, except the old, and almost dried up flowers. Timing is also key for gardening. The dogwood trees, whether it be white dogwood or any other, will show best results if planted during early spring, since the soil is then moist and conducive enough for good growth.When choosing your sapling, keep one thing in mind. Cornus Florida is part of the natural biodiversity of the United States. That is not the case with Cornus Kosua. It is a variant from East Asia. The trees have been naturalized here, so they do not affect the balance of the natural biodiversity.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for dogwood flowers then why not take a look at what flowers are safe for cats, or are cherry blossoms edible?
The flowering dogwood tree goes by the scientific name of Cornus Florida.
