This tree should certainly be a familiar sight to Virginia residents!

April 28, 2020

This tree should certainly be a familiar sight to Virginia residents! The flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is both the state tree and the state flower of Virginia. Speaking on a strictly technical level, however, the dogwood's flower isn't what we generally think it is. The four white petals aren't petals at all; they're structures called "bracts," which are modified leaves that surround the actual flowers. The flowers themselves are the tiny greenish-yellow things in the center of the bracts. Another example of this is the poinsettia plant; the bright red "flowers" of the poinsettia are bracts as well. So the next time someone comments on the beautiful white flowers of your dogwood tree, you too can pedantically correct them!

The flowering dogwood is a fairly common tree which can be found throughout much of the eastern half of the U.S. They are typically found at the edges of forests, and they bloom in April here in Virginia (they bloom a bit later in the more northern parts of their range). The bright red fruits that flowering dogwoods produce are a type of drupe, which is a fruit that has a single hard seed surrounded by a fleshy skin (peaches are also a kind of drupe). While these fruits aren't poisonous to humans, according to braver folks than me, they are unspeakably sour and disgusting.

Given their beauty, dogwoods are a popular ornamental tree. While the flowering dogwoods you'll find out in the woods will generally have white bracts, there are a variety of cultivars with pink or red bracts that you might spot at your local park or in your neighbor's front yard. If you'd like to add some trees to your own property, the dogwood is always a solid choice. They prefer moist, acidic soil with some afternoon shade. #BenInNature

About this post: Social distancing can be difficult, but the next few weeks present a great opportunity to become reacquainted with nature. While he is working from home, Administrator of Science Ben Williams is venturing outdoors each day to record a snapshot of the unique sights that can be found in the natural world.

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