PACIFIC DOGWOOD
Cornus nuttalii

• also known as Western Flowering Dogwood, Mountain Dogwood
• the theory is that 'dogwood' comes from the Sanskrit word for 'skewers' - 'dag'
• 'cornus' means horn and is supposedly refers to the hard wood
• 'nuttallii' is for the botanist Thomas Nuttall

UNIQUE FEATURES:

• the Pacific Dogwood is prevented by law from being dug up or cut down
• it is the floral emblem of British Columbia
• fruit attracts the birds, the fruit and foliage are a magnet for bears and beavers while the twigs are food for deer

LOCATION:

• on the southern coast of BC and in central and southern Vancouver Island
• is found on deep, coarse, well-drained soils

SIZE:

• up to 15 metres in height
• can appear like a shrub or small tree

FRUIT:

• elongated, dark, red berries
• edible but bitter
• stay on the tree after leaves have fallen

FLOWERS:

• the beautiful, white flowers are in actuality four to six leaves around 30 to 40 small green flowers compacted into a 'button'

LEAVES:

• opposite, oval, pointed tips, slightly toothed edges
• dark green, orange in fall
• 8 to 10 cm

BARK:

• smooth, grey or brown
• old trees have thin snall scales

WOOD CHARACTERISTICS:

• fine grained, hard, heavy

USES:

• modern - piano keys, ornamental in gardens, emblem of BC
• traditional - wood: bows, arrows, knitting needles; bark: tanning agent, dyes; branches: slingshots