Dogwoods

What people generally think of as a dogwood “flower” isn’t actually a flower, but rather a collection of large outer scales called “bracts.” The true flowers are very small and are clustered in a small group at the center of the arrangement. The three most common types of dogwoods bloom at different times of the year, so planting a mixture of the trees gives us an extended display of color on the campus.

• Cornelian Cherry

  Scientific name: Cornus mas

  A broad-spreading small tree with attractive yellow flowers in late winter or early spring, it is a native of Eurasia. It bears large cherry-like fruits that because of the high pectin content make good preserves. It will grow to approximately 20 feet tall. It has been cultivated since ancient times for its fruit, particularly in the Balkans.
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• Eastern Dogwood

  Scientific name: Cornus florida

  Native to the eastern United States, it has two main forms: one with white and one with pink "flowers" (really bracts). It is often wider than high, commonly reaching 25 feet. The flat planes of bracts before the leaves appear make this dogwood one of our showiest April and May flowering trees. Summer foliage is a good lustrous green, turning to an excellent red or plum fall color.
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• Eddie’s White Wonder Dogwood

  Scientific name: Cornus

  
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• Kousa Dogwood

  Scientific name: Cornus kousa

  The Kousa dogwood (a native of Japan and Korea) differs from the Eastern Flowering Dogwood in its later flowers (in June) with pointed bracts that stand above the foliage, and in its rounded and showy fruit clusters. The tree is about the same size as the American species and makes a nice garden tree. Cornus kousa var. chinensis "Chinese Dogwood" This variety comes from China and has larger leaves.
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• Pacific Dogwood

  Scientific name: Cornus nuttallii

  This is the largest of the native dogwoods and usually the first to bloom. It can grow to more than 70 feet in height and it does well in moist climates. This is a very beautiful native dogwood with large bracts and good fall color. We are losing this tree in the Northwest from a fungal disease called anthracnose.
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• Pagoda Dogwood

  Scientific name: Cornus alternifolia

  This dogwood is native to the eastern United States, where it is often found in thickets near streams. It can grow to be 20 feet tall and it produces small, dark blue fruit that look like berries.
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