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[title size=”2″]Flowering Dogwood[/title]

The flowering dogwood is a beautiful understory tree that can reach heights of 35 feet, although its average height is between 15 and 20 feet. They are most easily recognized when they bloom in the spring, their flowers beautiful shades of white, pink or red that conceal the tree’s canopy entirely. In addition to flowers, the dogwood bears clusters of cherry red fruit from late spring through late summer. During this blooming period, the flowering dogwood’s oval leaves are a shade of dark green on top and pale green on the bottom, but its color is transformed into deep shades of red and purple as fall approaches. Their leaves grow off a short stalk and are characterized by a large central vein culminating in a pointy end. The trunk of the flowering dogwood is typically about eight inches wide. The dark reddish-brown bark adds beautiful color to the forest. These trees grow in deciduous forests, which indicates that the leaves will fall off at a certain season. The trees are found in a temperate zone with fertile soil. However, the soil needs to be able to drain because the shallow roots of the flowering dogwood are susceptible to rot.

The flowering dogwood provides a variety of benefits to its surrounding ecosystem. Its fruit, flowers, seed, leaves, twigs and bark are consumed by a variety of animals including birds, squirrels, bees, beetles, butterflies, foxes, raccoons, deer and rabbit. The tree needs the insects to pollinate it. In addition, the tree is dependent on birds and animals to spread its seeds after they consume its fruit. When the dogwood decomposes in the winter it helps to improve the soil surrounding it. While the fruit is an important food source for animals, it is actually poisonous to humans. The tree is used for both aesthetic and practical purposes, such as landscaping and tool making.

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Cornus florida

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