Dogwood Tree Facts for Kids

A Picture of a Dogwood Tree
  • Common Name: Flowering Dogwood Tree
  • Species Name: Cornus florida
  • Genus: Cornus
  • Order: Cornales
  • Family: Cornaceae
  • Type of Tree: Flowering Tree

16 Dogwood Tree Facts for Kids

  1. The dogwood tree is a small flowering tree species in the Cornus genus.
  2. The common name for the dogwood tree is the flowering dogwood.
  3. The scientific name for the dogwood tree is Cornus florida.
  4. Botanists recognize two subspecies of the dogwood tree (Cornus florida).
  5. The dogwood tree is a deciduous tree, which means it loses its leaves seasonally.
  6. The lifespan of a dogwood tree tops out at around 80 years.
  7. The average height of a dogwood tree is around 33 feet.
  8. The average diameter of a dogwood tree trunk is 1 foot.
  9. The leaves of the dogwood tree have an ovate shape.
  10. The leaves of the dogwood tree have a length between 2 and 5 inches.
  11. The leaves of the dogwood tree have a width between 1.5 and 2.5 inches.
  12. The flowers of the dogwood tree can be red, pink or white.
  13. The fruit of the dogwood tree is red to yellowish red.
  14. The dogwood tree contains both male and female reproductive organs. This allows it to self-pollinate and means it can produce seeds on its own.
  15. The fruit of the dogwood tree is a popular food source for many different bird species. The birds who consume these seeds help disperse them through their feces.
  16. The roots and bark of the dogwood tree were used by Native Americans to treat malaria.

Additional Resources on the Dogwood Tree

  • About the Dogwood Tree – Find more facts and information about the dogwood tree on the Tree Center website.
  • Dogwood – Cornus florida – Read more cool facts and stats about the dogwood tree on the Wildflower Center website.
  • Flowering Dogwood – Visit the University of Florida website to discover more facts about the flowering dogwood tree.
  • Dogwood – Britannica Kids – Discover more about the dogwood tree (Cornus florida) on the Britannica Kids website.

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