Dogwood

For the month of April I decided to choose the dogwood flower in honor of the Dogwood Festival that Fayetteville, NC hosts each year and for the fact that it’s the state flower of North Carolina. North Carolina was the second state to choose the dogwood for the state flower in March of 1941; the General Assembly decided that it would be the state flower because of its “radiantly beautiful flower which grows abundantly in all parts of this state”. The first state to choose the dogwood flower was Virginia in 1918; Missouri followed suit in 1955 after North Carolina. There are 4 varieties native to North Carolina, though Cornus florida is the most commonly known as it has the white blossoms.

Growing in USDA zones 5-9, the dogwood tree can be propagated through cutting, grafting, or simply sowing the seed. While it can handle full sun, this acidic loving plant is better kept in partial shade. Do be careful not to forget to water it often as the roots are very shallow around it and it doesn’t handle drought well; if you’re trying to grow this beauty in a place prone to drought, mulching will help it to retain its moisture. Since it can grow 20-33’ high, it is best to plant it at least 6’ away from your home if at all possible. For more information regarding plants, download Picture This for free from your Google Play or Apple Store (ver. 13.0+).

This tree symbolizes strength, purity, renewal, and the coming of Spring. It is also often linked to Easter and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. However, this is quite false in nature and aside from an anonymous poem from years ago, there’s no solid proof that these two should correspond. The Crucifixion of Jesus is marked in Matthew 27 and in both the KJV and NIV there is no mention of the wood that was used to make the cross, simply that Jesus was forced to carry it. Furthermore, the crucifixion took place in Israel, and while it can be planted in a portion of Israel, most of where biblical events surrounding Jesus took place are outside of the preferred planting zone. As well as the fact that the dogwood isn’t even native to Israel in the beginning. While I believe this was probably just another attempt to rid pagan traditions from the world and cover it up with Christianity, I couldn’t find any ties of the dogwood tree to pagan Easter (Ostara).

Religion and myth aside, North Carolina hosts two dogwood festivals! Fayetteville, NC is hosting the Dogwood Festival April 27th - 30th for their 41st year! It will be quite exciting and I look forward to hopefully making it out April 29th as Buckcherry and Lit will be playing; while the concert itself is free, tickets are available for those wanting premium seating. In Farmville, NC April 27th - 30th for the 33rd year! They will also have music and food.

North Carolina isn't the only state to hold a Dogwood Festival, Missouri is hosting one for the 72nd year in Camdenton April 20th - 22nd. There will be varying events throughout the days including music, food, and vendors with a parade on the 22nd at 10am. Virginia also holds a Dogwood Festival in Vinton. This will be their 68th year hosting the festival (April 28th - 29th). Other states that celebrate the Dogwood Festival are Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana.

I hope you enjoyed learning about the dogwood tree and the many festivals that are held on its behalf. Tune in next month to see which flower is next! Follow me on Instagram for updates at DaisyDragonFlower; all sources for the article will be posted on my Weebly account at daisyhaven.weebly.com.