Information About Dogwood Trees Growth

The White Dogwood is a spring-blooming ornamental tree that goes well with any landscape in any season. During the Spring, the tree is full of white blooms and looks very nice when lining a driveway or side street. The leaves turn a pretty reddish-brow in the fall which looks great with its small red berry clusters.

The Dogwood berries are favored by many species of birds and seems to be a favorite place to build bird nests.

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The Dogwood likes moist, well-drained soil; however, it will tolerate some drought.

Scientific Name: Cornus florida

Common Name: Dogwood, Flowering Dogwood, White Dogwood

Characteristics

Type of Tree: Flowering Tree.

Light: Full sun, part shade.

Soil Type: Moist, well-drained soil. Has some drought tolerance.

Size at Maturity: Medium; 20'-25' tall with a spread of 20'-25' wide.

Growth: Medium rate grower.

Lifespan: Long lived; usually around 75 years.

Shape: Rounded.

Blooming Time: Early April

Flowers: White 4-petal flowers with a green center.

Fruit: Small round red berries that grow in small clusters.

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The Legend of the Dogwood Tree

Legend has it that Dogwood wood was what was used to build the cross that Jesus was crucified on. They say that before the crucifixion the tree was much bigger than it is today, being the largest tree in Jerusalem. After the crucifixion, Jesus transformed the tree into a much smaller, weaker one so that the tree could never be used to contruct another cross in order to crucify another person. The flowers were changed to a 4-petal bloom in the shape of the cross and each petal given a browish-red indentation representing the nails. The flower's center represents the crown that was placed on His head, and the red berries represent His blood.