Flower of the Month

When spring finally arrives it is always difficult to choose just one flower to highlight. For the month of May I am selecting a flowering tree that put on a spectacular show.

Cornus florida (Cherokee Chief)
Native to eastern U.S. This specimen is the most commonly planted flowering dogwood in Northwest and mountain areas, where it is easy to grow. Deep rose pink flowers that are paler at base and red berry clusters. I planted this tree in our back yard where it receives morning sun and afternoon shade.It is about 8 ft. high and 10 feet wide with graceful arching limbs that provide the perfect spot to sit and contemplate.

The Flowering Dogwood is the state tree of Virginia, and grows 20 to 25 feet tall and spreads 12 to 15 feet. This is one of the most popular red-flowered cultivars. It is usually trained as a picturesque multitrunked tree. The flowers consist of four bracts which subtend the small head of yellow flowers. The bracts are deep red and very striking. The fall color is usually bronze and the bright red fruits are often eaten by birds. Fall color is more vivid in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8a. Branches on the lower half of the crown grow horizontally, those in the upper half are more upright. In time, this can lend a strikingly horizontal impact to the landscape, particularly if some branches are thinned to open up the crown. Lower branches left on the trunk will droop to the ground, creating a wonderful landscape feature.