Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida
Adopted 1941

The dogwood's small, greenish-white flowers are clustered at the center of each group of four large, white bracts, which are often mistaken for petals. Flowering dogwood grows naturally as a small tree in the understory of our forests, and it is a popular choice for landscaping homes, parks, and roadsides. During fall and winter, many kinds of birds and small mammals eat the shiny red fruits.