The Dogwood blossom (Cornus florida L.) is the North Carolina State Flower. The other common names of Dogwood include American Dogwood and Flowering Dogwood. Dogwood is a native of North America and the south of northern New England, Minnesota, and Wyoming. Dogwood is one of the most popular ornamental trees appreciated for its beauty, and for its use as the background tree in landscaping. The characteristic feature of the Flowering Dogwood is its showy flowers that bloom in Spring.

Kingdom

Plantae

Division

Magnoliophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Cornales

Family

Cornaceae

Genus

Cornus

Species

florida L.

Dogwoods are deciduous trees that grow to 15-40 feet in height and are generally wider than they are tall. Dogwoods bloom all year-round – flowering in spring, fruiting in summer, showing wine-colored foliage in autumn. The Dogwood’s beauty is enhanced by the brilliant showyness of red, orange and scarlet foliage along with the bright red fruit borne in small clusters.

The Dogwood flower consists of four showy petal-like bracts, usually snow white or pink. The Dogwood flower bracts surround a cluster of tiny inconspicuous yellowish flowers. The Dogwood flower bracts are 1-2 inches long and obovate in shape, usually with a cleft at the tip. There are clusters of bright red football shaped fruits, about a half inch long, following the Dogwood flowers and often remain until winter. Flowering occurs in late April and early May.

Facts About Dogwood

• Dogwood has a short trunk and a full, rounded crown with horizontal branches often in layered tiers, spreading wider than its height.
• Dogwoods have single or multiple trunks, and mature trees usually take on a flat-topped appearance.
• Dogwood leaves are simple, 3-5 in. in length, and opposite.
• There are two reddish scales covering each leaf bud.
• Dogwood bark is reddish-brown to reddish gray.
• Dogwood cures violent toothache, neuralgia and whooping-cough.
• In winter, button shaped buds are prominent on the tips of the Dogwood twigs.
• The interesting Dogwood bark texture and branches help create an excellent winter silhouette.
• The Oil extracted from the fruit of the blood-twig Dogwood is used in France for making soap, and the wood of several species is used in furniture.

Some popular cultivars of Dogwood are: Autumn Gold, Barton, Bay Beauty, Cherokee Daybreak, Cherokee Chief, Cherokee Sunset, Gulf Coast Pink, Hohman’s Gold, Plena, Purple Glory, Weaver White.

There are many online florists who deliver flowers to North Carolina. You can send flowers, plants of your choice to your loved ones living in North Carolina or from North Carolina to other locations across the United States of America through these popular North Carolina Online Florists.

Facts About North Carolina

The Capital City of North Carolina is Raleigh. North Carolina became a state on November 21, 1789. North Carolina’s official flag was adopted in 1885.

• The total land area of North Carolina is 53821 sq.mi.
• North Carolina is located in the warm temperate zone, and has a general mild climate, with abundant and well distributed rainfall.
• The state is bordered by Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia.
• North Carolina’s economy depends upon Agriculture: Poultry and eggs, tobacco, hogs, milk, nursery stock, cattle, soybeans; and Industry: Tobacco products, textile goods, chemical products, electric equipment, machinery, tourism.
• North Carolina’s nickname is Old North State / Tar Heel State.
• Historical Sites in North Carolina are: The Wright Brothers National Memorial at Kitty Hawk, Guilford Courthouse and Moores Creek National Military Parks, Carl Sandburg’s home near Hendersonville, and the Old Salem Restoration in Winston-Salem.
• Interesting places in North Carolina are: The Great Smoky Mountains, the Blue Ridge National Parkway, and the Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores.
• Dinosaur Fossils are found in North Carolina, Ex., Hypsibema, Lophorhothon, Zatomus.
• Grandfather Mountain is home to the nation’s highest swinging bridge-one mile high.
• The world’s smallest daily newspaper is the Tryon Daily Bulletin.