The flowering dogwood is a small, bushy tree, reaching 15-30 feet in height and 6-18 inches in diameter.  Several large, wide-spreading branches form a low, dense, rounded crown. 
 
Leaves 

Leaves are simple, opposite, and deciduous.  The leaves are 1.5-2 inches wide and are oval in shape, with an acute or slender apex.  The leaf base is wedge-shaped.  Leaf margins are often irregular and entire or remotely scalloped.  The veins of the leaves are characteristically arcuate (curved upward toward the apex of the leaf).  The leaf surfaces are light green and somewhat pubescent on top, and whitish and pubescent below.  Leaf petioles are stout and grooved, up to 3/4 inch long. 
 
Flowers 
 
The flowers of the flowering dogwood are perfect, occurring in dense heads (2-4 inches in diameter), which are surrounded by 4 large, white, petal-like bracts. 
 
Fruit 
 
Fruit is a bright red drupe, about 1/2 inch long and 1/4 inch in diameter.  These drupes occur in clusters of 2 to several, ripening in the fall.  The pit is 2-celled and grooved, encasing oblong seeds. 
 
Twigs 

The twigs are slender, red or yellowish-green to purple and somewhat pubescent at first, becoming glabrous and brown or gray-brown.  The pith is  homogeneous. 
 
Bark 

The bark is up to 3/8 inch thick, dark brown or nearly black, breaking into many polygonal, scaly blocks. 

Habitat 

The flowering dogwood occurs on moist, rich, deep soils near streams and on slopes, usually growing in the shade of other hardwoods.  It is also found on open slopes and ridges.  It is found from southern Maine west through New York; west to southeastern Kansas; south to central Florida and to eastern Texas.  It is occasionally found in northern Mexico. 
 
Use 

This tree is of limited value as a source of wood for small articles such as spindles, shuttles, hubs and handles.  It is highly valued as an ornamental.  In colonial times a brew made from the bark was used in the treatment of fever. 
 

Query the USDA Plant Database