The state tree of Virginia, Flowering Dogwood grows 20 to 30 feet tall and spreads 20 to 25 feet. It can be trained with one central trunk or as a picturesque multi-trunked tree. The flowers consist of four white bracts which subtend the small head of yellow green flowers. Fall color is red to maroon. The bright red fruits (poisonous to humans, but loved by birds) mature in early fall and usually persist until the middle of December. Branches on the lower half of the crown grow horizontally; those in the upper half are more upright. In time, this can lend a strikingly horizontal impact to the landscape, particularly if some branches are thinned to open up the crown. Lower branches left on the trunk will droop to the ground, creating a wonderful landscape feature.
