NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details
Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]
Flowering Dogwood
Scientific Name: |
Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida] |
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Genus: |
Cornus |
Species Epithet: |
florida |
Common Name: |
Flowering Dogwood |
Plant Type |
Tree |
Life Cycle |
Perennial |
Plant Family |
Cornaceae (Dogwood Family) |
Native/Alien: |
NC Native |
Invasive Status: |
(*Key) |
Size: |
12-36 ft. |
Bloom Color(s): |
White, Pink, Yellow |
Light: |
Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day |
Soil Moisture: |
Dry, Moist |
Bloom Time: |
March, April, May |
Growing Area: |
Mountains, Piedmont, Sandhills, Coastal Plain |
Habitat Description: |
Dry to moist forests and woodlands. Common throughout NC. |
Leaf Arrangement: |
Opposite |
Leaf Retention: |
Deciduous |
Leaf Type: |
Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like |
Leaf Form: |
Simple |
Life Cycle: |
Perennial |
Wildlife Value: |
Highest Wildlife Value |
Landscape Value: |
Highly Recommended and Available |
State Rank: |
S4: Apparently secure (*Key) |
Global Rank: |
G5 - Secure (*Key) |
Notes: |
Per Larry Mellichamp, "the overall most beloved and widely planted deciduous tree in the Southeast....year-round appeal via flowers, foliage, form, fruit and bark." |
Flowering Dogwoods explode with showy white blossoms in mid-spring. True flowers are tiny and surrounded by 4 showy, bright white leafy bracts. Will Stuart |
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Cornus florida is often multi-stemmed with distinctively layered branches. Will Stuart |
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Pink flowering cultivars are available and handsome. Will Stuart |
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A pair of Flowering Dogwoods in the Suzie Harwood Garden, UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens. Will Stuart |
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Many species of native birds are attracted to dogwood fruits in autumn. Will Stuart |
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Emerging inflorescence in early April with subtending bracts just opening (still green but will later turn white) and flowers still in bud. Orange County, NC Bettina Darveaux |
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Close-up of flower bud in the Fall Orange County, NC Bettina Darveaux |
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Brilliant scarlet Fall color Orange County, NC Bettina Darveaux |
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Links: |
https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/species_account.php https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cornus-florida/ https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/benthamidia/florida/ |
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