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." |
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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/ |
![The Scientific Name is Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]. You will likely hear them called Flowering Dogwood. This picture shows the Flowering Dogwoods explode with showy white blossoms in mid-spring. True flowers are tiny and surrounded by 4 showy, bright white leafy bracts. of Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]](https://ncwildflower.org/images/plants/Cornus_florida_20170415.jpg "Flowering Dogwoods explode with showy white blossoms in mid-spring. True flowers are tiny and surrounded by 4 showy, bright white leafy bracts. of Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]")
![The Scientific Name is Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]. You will likely hear them called Flowering Dogwood. This picture shows the Cornus florida is often multi-stemmed with distinctively layered branches. of Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]](https://ncwildflower.org/images/plants/Cornus_florida_20190404_0326.jpg "Cornus florida is often multi-stemmed with distinctively layered branches. of Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]")
![The Scientific Name is Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]. You will likely hear them called Flowering Dogwood. This picture shows the Pink flowering cultivars are available and handsome. of Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]](https://ncwildflower.org/images/plants/Cornus_florida_20190407_2228.jpg "Pink flowering cultivars are available and handsome. of Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]")
![The Scientific Name is Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]. You will likely hear them called Flowering Dogwood. This picture shows the A pair of Flowering Dogwoods in the Suzie Harwood Garden, UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens. of Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]](https://ncwildflower.org/images/plants/Cornus_florida_20190407_0437.jpg "A pair of Flowering Dogwoods in the Suzie Harwood Garden, UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens. of Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]")
![The Scientific Name is Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]. You will likely hear them called Flowering Dogwood. This picture shows the Many species of native birds are attracted to dogwood fruits in autumn. of Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]](https://ncwildflower.org/images/plants/Cornus_florida_20171111_0074.jpg "Many species of native birds are attracted to dogwood fruits in autumn. of Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]")
![The Scientific Name is Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]. You will likely hear them called Flowering Dogwood. This picture shows the Emerging inflorescence in early April with subtending bracts just opening (still green but will later turn white) and flowers still in bud. of Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]](https://ncwildflower.org/images/plants/IMG_0945.jpg "Emerging inflorescence in early April with subtending bracts just opening (still green but will later turn white) and flowers still in bud. of Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]")
![The Scientific Name is Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]. You will likely hear them called Flowering Dogwood. This picture shows the Close-up of flower bud in the Fall of Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]](https://ncwildflower.org/images/plants/IMG_1603.jpg "Close-up of flower bud in the Fall of Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]")
![The Scientific Name is Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]. You will likely hear them called Flowering Dogwood. This picture shows the Brilliant scarlet Fall color of Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]](https://ncwildflower.org/images/plants/IMG_4379.jpg "Brilliant scarlet Fall color of Cornus florida [= Benthamidia florida]")
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