American Dogwood Tree Facts

Dogwood tree facts summary.

American dogwood tree facts. These are drupes with one or two large seeds and almost all species are edible. One of the most common species and the one about which you ve most likely heard is the flowering dogwood. Dogwood trees are beautiful ornamental trees that provide food and shelter for a wide variety of wildlife. As long as you offer the tree plenty of water and sunshine like most plants the dogwood will do just fine.

It turns a rich red brown in fall. Fertilized flowers develop into showy red fruits. The dogwood tree belongs to the family cornaceae and its scientific name is cornus florida. An old tree will stand about 5 meters tall.

There are over 50 species within the cornus or dogwood genus. It rarely exceeds height of 15 to 25 feet. The fruits are known as dogberries or houndberries. The legend of the dogwood tree holds particular importance for christians.

Dogwood flowers are bisexual so the tree can self fertilize. It is an ornamental tree and is also known as hound s tree. White petals are actually bracts modified leaves that surround centrally positioned miniature yellowish green flower heads. It is quite common in north america.

Dogwood produces simple green leaves with wavy edges. Leaves are simple opposite ovate measuring 6 13 cm long and 4 6 cm broad with entire margins. The dogwood tree is a majestic ornamental well adapted to life in the united states. Dogwoods are very useful in that they provide dyes have extensive medicinal properties and rejuvenate soil.

The sturdy wood is used in the manufacture of a range of practical items that require a dense and durable material. The state tree of. Dogwood can grow in the form of bush or small tree. Leaves are usually oppositely arranged on the branches.

Each flower head consists of 20 to 30 individual flowers. American dogwood is a small deciduous tree which grows to the height of 10 meters and often wider than it is tall when mature having trunk diameter upto 30 cm.