Western Flowering Dogwood

Dogwood is abloom throughout the woods

Dogwood (Western Flowering) Cornus nuttallii

Wild. Natural. Dogwood Family. Small forest tree. Grows only in the southwest corner of BC.  Grows to 40’ tall. Often shrubby. Branches grow in a wavy fashion. Leaves 2-3” long, simple, in clusters of four or more, turn deep red in fall.
Flower, our BC provincial emblem, greenish-white heads each surrounded by four – seven showy, white petal-like pointed bracts. Blooms in May, sometimes in September. At blossom time it will “bleed” to death if too many twigs are picked, hence it is protected by law.  Fruit is bright red berries in a tight cluster that attracts many birds in late summer and fall.  At one time skewers or ‘dags’ were made from the wood, its common name has been popularized from its old name ‘dagwood.’   Means: durability