Rowan University Libraries Arboretum Logo
M
Home 9 Trees 9 Flowering Dogwood

Flowering Dogwood

Researched by Dominick Cipolone

Image of the Dogwood tree in the spring in the Rowan University Arboretum, Glassboro New Jersey.Species:  Cornus flordia
Common name:  Flowering dogwood, boxwood, cornel
Family:  Cornaceae (Dogwood Family)
Clade:  Angiosperms (flowering seed plants)

Coordinates: 39.70903591, -75.12119101

Tree Tag: 585 An icon used to show more information.
A tag using this number is placed near the tree.

 

Welcome! This tree may look familiar to some – it is a Flowering Dogwood. This species is often planted in locations as an ornamental because of its attractive white or pink blooms. Flowering Dogwoods are native to most of North America and are found in varied climates, from Canada to East Texas. The Dogwood does not grow very big, with its average height being around 15 to 20 feet tall, which makes them perfect for understories in forests or as a smaller scale ornamental tree in a garden.  

This particular dogwood tree has an interesting growth habit, as you can see. The tree is split due to damage, with two major trunks growing from the same base. Even though it was damaged, it still found a way to grow just like the other dogwoods that you can find around the Hollybush Mansion on Rowan’s Campus. This characteristic is a testament to how resistant these trees are to damage.

The area around this Dogwood provides ideal sunlight, since this species is typically found in the shady margins of forests, making the townhouses just the right balance of sunlight and shade. Dogwoods are prone to anthracnose, a fungal infection that causes the leaves, flowers and stems to turn brown and decay. If this tree was in a shady, moist area, it would become a major concern. As the disease works its way from the leaves and flowers, it goes into the stems to form cankers. This is when it becomes serious and is hard to save the tree.
Read More

Flowering Dogwood Leaf Illustration
An image of the Dogwood tree leaves in fall in the Rowan University Arboretum, Glassboro New Jersey.
An image of the Dogwood tree trunk in the Rowan University Arboretum, Glassboro New Jersey.
An image of the Dogwood tree branches and leaves during fall in the Rowan University Arboretum, Glassboro New Jersey.
An image of the Dogwood tree bark in the Rowan University Arboretum, Glassboro New Jersey.
An image of the Dogwood tree leaves in fall in the Rowan University Arboretum, Glassboro New Jersey.
An image of the Dogwood tree leaves in fall in the Rowan University Arboretum, Glassboro New Jersey.
An image of the Dogwood tree leaves in the Rowan University Arboretum, Glassboro New Jersey.
An image of the Dogwood tree in winter in the Rowan University Arboretum, Glassboro New Jersey.
An image of the Dogwood tree in the Rowan University Arboretum, Glassboro New Jersey.
An image of the Dogwood flowers in the Rowan University Arboretum, Glassboro New Jersey.
An image of the Dogwood tree in fall in the Rowan University Arboretum, Glassboro New Jersey.
An image of the Dogwood tree leaves in fall in the Rowan University Arboretum, Glassboro New Jersey.
An image of the Dogwood tree flower in spring in the Rowan University Arboretum, Glassboro New Jersey.
An image of the flowering dogwood flower in the Rowan University Arboretum, Glassboro New Jersey.
An image of the flowering dogwood flowers and leaves in the Rowan University Arboretum, Glassboro New Jersey.
An image of the Dogwood tree flower in the Rowan University Arboretum, Glassboro New Jersey.
An image of the flowering dogwood flower in the Rowan University Arboretum, Glassboro New Jersey.
An image of the flowering dogwood flower in the Rowan University Arboretum, Glassboro New Jersey.
An image of the flowering dogwood flowers in the Rowan University Arboretum, Glassboro New Jersey.

[Show slideshow]
1 2
Campus Species Map
Researcher’s Biography

A photo of Dominick Cipolone, student in the Plan Diversity course working with the Rowan University Arboretum Project.Dominick Cipolone

Biological Sciences (2021)

I genuinely enjoy being around plants as it helps me understand the importance of the little things in life. Personally I find it calming to be around an organism that does not communicate with its surroundings by what we consider conventional means. This has made me a better person over the years and helped me appreciate the little things in life. I have always loved the outdoors growing up and being able to study all of these topics as an adult has allowed me to find a deeper vein of that love.

I was born and raised in New Jersey, where I decided to attend Rowan University. I originally was enrolled at Ursinus College but decided it was time to retire from playing collegiate football and focus on my passion. I plan to finish my Bachelor’s of Science in Biological Science in 2021. I hope that this education will lead me to a brighter future for myself and my dog Lola.

Suggested Citation:

Cipilone, Dominick. (2021, Dec). Dogwood. Rowan University Arboretum. https://arboretum.rowan.edu/trees/dogwood/

Questions to Explore

    • What is the ideal habitat for the Flowering Dogwood in North America?
    • How are the seeds dispersed once produced?
    • What does the flowering dogwood symbolize?
    • Why do people believe that the tree is strong but smaller than most trees of its nature, like oaks?

    References

    CAB International. (2019). Cornus Florida (Flowering Dogwood). | Link

    Douglas, S. M. (n.d). Dogwood Anthracnose. | Link

    Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – The University of Texas at Austin. Plant database – (Cornus Florida). (2021). | Link

     McLemore, B. F. (n.d.). Cornus Florida L. – Flowering Dogwood. | Link

    Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.). Cornus Florida – Plant Finder. | Link

    Smith, S. (n.d.) Anthracnose Diseases of Dogwood. University of Arkansas. | Link

     Vareed, S. K., Reddy, M. K., Schutzki, R. E., & Nair, M. G. (2006). “Anthocyanins in cornus alternifolia, Cornus controversa, Cornus Kousa and Cornus Florida fruits with health benefits”. Life Sciences, 78(7), 777–784. | Link 

     

    Rowan University Resources

    *You may need to log into the Rowan University Library site*

    Trees of Western North America
    | Link

    Inheritance of red foliage in flowering dogwood | Link

    Trees of Eastern North America | Link

    Flowering Dogwood: Legend of the Dogwood Tree | Link

    Top

    Skip to content