Pacific dogwood
Cornus nuttallii, family Cornaceae
In its own language: Kwi’txulhp
White-bracted tree native to the forests of western North America
Pacific dogwood is a deciduous tree from the forests of western North America, known for its showy white bracts that surround small greenish flowers. It is valued as an ornamental tree and holds cultural importance in British Columbia, where it is the provincial flower.
- Native to forests from southern British Columbia to southern California
- Recognized as the provincial flower of British Columbia
- Blooms twice a year with large white bracts around small flowers
- Bark used by Indigenous peoples for dye and medicine
- Susceptible to dogwood anthracnose, a damaging fungal disease
What does Pacific dogwood look like?
Pacific dogwood grows as a tree that can reach up to 23 meters tall, with a canopy that spreads wide in sunny spots or forms a slender crown in shade. Its leaves are oval, green above with fine hairs, and turn orange or purple in the fall. The tree’s most striking feature is its clusters of tiny greenish flowers, each surrounded by four to eight large white bracts that look like petals. These bracts make the flower heads appear much larger. In autumn, it produces clusters of pink-red or orange fruit.
Where does Pacific dogwood come from?
This tree is native to the forests and mountain slopes of western North America, from southern British Columbia down to southern California, with a rare inland group in central Idaho. It thrives in moist, well-drained soils, often along streams and on gentle slopes, and prefers acidic soils. The species was first described by Thomas Nuttall at Fort Vancouver in 1834, and its name honors him. Pacific dogwood has long been recognized by Indigenous peoples, who have their own names and uses for the tree.
When and how Pacific dogwood blooms
Pacific dogwood blooms twice a year, once in spring and again in late summer or early autumn. It prefers temperate climates with moist, humus-rich soils and does not tolerate frost well. The tree can be grown from seed and is often planted as an ornamental for its showy bracts. It is adapted to a range of fire regimes and can resprout from the base after being burned.
How Pacific dogwood is used
The tree is mainly grown for its ornamental value in gardens and parks. Indigenous Plateau peoples used its bark to make brown dye and in traditional medicine for various treatments. The wood is not widely used. As a symbol, it represents British Columbia and was once legally protected there. Its fruit feeds local wildlife, including birds and small mammals.
Kinds of Pacific dogwood
Pacific dogwood is closely related to other dogwoods like Cornus florida, which grows in the eastern United States and looks similar. Cornus canadensis, another relative, grows as a groundcover and has similar blossoms. No major cultivated varieties are widely noted in the sources.
What Pacific dogwood means
Pacific dogwood is the official flower of British Columbia and has been a provincial symbol since 1956. Although once protected by law, this status was removed in 2002. The tree is also important to local wildlife and is recognized by Indigenous groups, who use its bark for dye and medicine. It is threatened in some areas by a fungal disease called dogwood anthracnose.
Questions people ask about Pacific dogwood
Where does Pacific dogwood come from?
Pacific dogwood is native to the forests and mountain slopes of western North America, especially from southern British Columbia to southern California, with a rare inland population in Idaho.
What does Pacific dogwood look like?
It is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 23 meters tall, with oval green leaves and clusters of small greenish flowers surrounded by large white bracts that resemble petals. In autumn, its leaves turn orange or purple, and it produces pink-red or orange fruit.
What is Pacific dogwood used for?
The tree is mainly grown as an ornamental for its striking white bracts. Indigenous groups have used its bark for making brown dye and in traditional medicine. Its fruit feeds local wildlife.
What does Pacific dogwood symbolize?
It is the official flower of British Columbia and serves as a provincial symbol. It is also recognized and used by Indigenous peoples in the region.
Is Pacific dogwood affected by any diseases?
Yes, it is highly susceptible to dogwood anthracnose, a fungal disease that can cause severe leaf loss and has threatened wild populations in its native range.
Good reading and sources
- Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
- Thomas Nuttall (U.S. National Park Service)US National Park Service, Article
- Species: Cornus nuttalliiUS Department of Agriculture, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
- Cornus nuttallii on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Cornus nuttallii", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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