Florida 4-H Forest Ecology

Identifying Characteristics

Size/Form:	Flowering dogwood is a small tree that reaches heights of 30' to 40'.
Bark:	The grayish-brown bark is thick and rough. It is fissured into small, thin, angular scales that appear as small, pebbly blocks.
Leaves:	The leaves are simple, oppositely arranged, deciduous, and 4" to 6" long by 2" to 3" wide. The ovate shaped leaves usually have slightly fuzzy, dark green upper surfaces while the underneath surface is paler and hairy. The leaf base is acute and the tip is pointed. The leaf margin is smooth.
Flowers:	The flowers are tiny and have 4 large white, occasionally pink, petal-like bracts.
Fruit:	The fruit is a ½" long, glossy bright red, ellipsoid drupe.
Similar Trees on the Florida 4-H Forest Ecology Contest List: The leaf shape is similar to that of common persimmon, but those leaves have an alternate arrangement, while the leaves of the dogwood are opposite. The only other trees on our list with opposite, simple leaves are the maples (Florida, red, and silver) but all three of those have lobed leaves with palmate venation.