Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

The Flowering Dogwood is a common specimen tree in southern gardens. When in bloom in full sunlight, they are covered in a solid, thick mass of flowers.

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In the woods, however, they don't bloom densely and have an ethereal appearance. I think these are even prettier than the trees in a cultivated garden.

The flower buds - a cluster of about 20 ‘surrounded’ by four bracts - are developing; the bracts are still green.

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The small green flowers are opening. The bracts are now white.

The leaves develop after the flowers

The bracts fall and the flowers start to go to seed.
To be continued…

The Flowering Dogwood is native to eastern North America, from Ontario to Maine, south to Florida and west to Kansas and Texas.
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Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower