Flowering Dogwood Cornaceae Cornus florida

Leaf: Opposite, simple, arcuately veined, 3 to 6 inches long, oval in shape with
an entire margin.

Flower: Very small, but surrounded by 4 large white (occasionally pink) bracts,
2 inches in diameter. Appearing March to April in the south, June in the north.

Fruit: A shiny, oval red drupe, 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, in clusters of 3 to 4.
Maturing in September to October.

Twig: Slender, green or purple, later turning gray, often with a glaucous bloom.
The terminal flower buds are clove-shaped, vegetative buds resemble a cat claw.

Bark: Gray when young, turning very scaly to blocky.

Form: A small tree with a short trunk that branches low, producing a flat-topped
crown. Branches are opposite, and assume a “candelabra” appearance.