TREES OF PARKFAIRFAX  FLOWERING DOGWOOD

No other tree announces the arrival of our spring as well as the Flowering Dogwood.  Fortunately, we have many of these trees within Parkfairfax and each April and May we are treated to a delightful showing of their flowers which according to Michael Dirr makes the blooming “the envy of every landscape plant.” The dogwood flower is a combination of the true flower: small, numerous, greenish clusters organized in a hemispherical arrangement and four white to pinkish bracts surrounding each true flower. In the fall a second show of color occurs when the dark green leaves turn to red to reddish purple with the tree also showing the red fruit of the true flowers. But not for long because the fruit is a favorite of many of our resident and migrating birds. A final distinction of the tree is the cracking of the bark of older trees into squares looking something like alligator hide.

Flowering dogwoods generally grow to 20-30 feet high with a 20 foot spread. The tree does best when planted in well-drained rich soil and in the shade of larger trees. Several dogwoods can be found along our streets including those at the following locations:  in front of both 3458 and 3764 Gunston Road and 3388 and 3114 Martha Custis Drive.

In earlier times the powdered bark of dogwoods is reported to have been made into toothpaste, mixed with iron sulphate to make a black ink, and as a substitute for quinine. The hard, close grained wood was used to make mallets, tool handles and golf club heads.

For more information about the Flowering Dogwood, the official tree of the Commonwealth of Virginia go to  www.cnr.vt.edu/DENDRO/DENDROLOGY/syllabus/cflorida.html

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/cornus/florida.htm

or Dirr, Michael A  Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs. Timber Press, 1997