flowering dogwood

noun

1. a North American dogwood tree, Cornus florida, having small greenish flowers in the spring, surrounded by white or pink bracts that resemble petals: the state flower and the state tree of Virginia.

Word History and Origins

Origin of flowering dogwood¹

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

THE flowering dogwood is rare in the northern third of the State.

From Project Gutenberg

A flowering dogwood bathed in its ethereal light shimmers like a bridal veil adorning a wood nymph.

From Project Gutenberg

By the roadside, on a little knoll set round with flowering dogwood, sat General Lee on grey Traveller.

From Project Gutenberg

I rode in the cars through miles on miles of flowering dogwood and pink azalea.

From Project Gutenberg

It wants some of the good points possessed by the flowering dogwood.

From Project Gutenberg