Dogwood, Eastern | Arboretum | SIU

This tree is one of the 150 trees initially included in the arboretum to coincide with the campus's 150th anniversary celebration.

Scientific Name:
Cornus florida

Cultivar:

Native to:
Massachusetts to Florida, west to Ontario,Texas, and Mexico

Mature Height and Width:
20-30 feet by 30-40 feet

Additional Notes:
Despite its small size, dogwood was widely used for manufacturing tools and industrial equipment requiring wood that held up under heavy use and did not generate splinters.  Weaving shuttles were a prime example.  The name “dogwood” is a derivation of the old English “dagwood” referring to its use in the manufacture of daggers.  That’s a thick resume for what can now be regarded as just a pretty little tree.

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