Botanica Atlanta | Landscape Design-Build-Maintain

Image: Erin and Lance Willett

The point of this post will not be to promote an overlooked plant species or to introduce an exciting new cultivar. The tree we know as flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is so common that little is left to do but reflect on those qualities that make this plant such a steadfast component of the American landscape.

Image: Kate Eburg

The flowering dogwood never reaches the size of a large, stately shade tree, and -- though it is known for its blooms -- its spring show is not nearly as dramatic as the blooms of such similarly sized species as the cherry tree. Actually, when we look at its signature blossoms, the "petals" are actually just modified leaves. In the fall, the tree offers bright, red berry-like fruits, but they are poisonous to human beings. Described through words alone, the tree sounds like the very definition of mediocre, and yet, it is beloved across North America. From Missouri to New Jersey, this American native is held in such high regard that it is honored with official, legislated designations as "State Tree," "State Memorial Tree," and "State Flower."

Images: Ken Slade, Martin La Bar, and Chris Kreussling

The secret to the tree's prized status lies in its subtly beautiful composition, its relative reliability, and the valuable role it plays in natural ecosystems. The flowers, creams of white and pink, occur over a backdrop of robust green foliage and textural gray bark. Many years, flowering dogwoods offer dazzling red and orange fall foliage displays. In terms of architecture, the tree's branches arc gracefully from its trunk, often spreading out just above eye level. As a natural understory tree, the species performs quite well in mature, shaded settings, and can reliably grow beneath power lines without conflict.

To ecosystem health, the tree is also of immense value. While the vibrant fruits are toxic to humans, every creature from songbirds to foxes, beavers, and white-tailed deer find the tree's offerings both palatable and nutritious. Flowering dogwoods are also considered effective soil improvers by the United States Department of Agriculture. Its rapidly decomposing leaf litter helps restore soil function on former mining and industrial sites as well as in urban forests.

Image: Tom Potterfield