The Dog Days of Spring

Pacific Dogwood Tree

As we cruise into the second half of spring, the wildflower search team is busier than the proverbial "gopher in a golf course." Dozens of woodland plants are blooming locally as well as those dry-land plants out in the eastern Columbia River Gorge. We tend to have our botanical eyes and cameras pointed down at the ground as we navigate trails and paths - a bad habit for both safety reasons and because there are other interesting things blooming above us now!

As a kid, I enjoyed climbing big-branched deciduous trees. My mother saw my tree habit as an anxiety generator, but eventually it helped me appreciate nature - especially after some near-catastrophic slips! On many of these tree climbing missions, the one particular tree I actually recall clearly is the dogwood. Not that I climbed up a dogwood, as they are too spindly in most cases, but probably the unique flower appearance and name stuck in my head. Turns out, of the 45 species of dogwood in the world, only two are native to the Northwest: the Pacific Dogwood tree (Cornus nuttalii). and the shrub, Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea). There are many cultivar ornamental dogwoods as well, and these hardy and striking trees delightfully grace our urban landscapes with white and pink blooms every spring.

The native Pacific Dogwood has a simple beauty in my mind. It typically grows in the partially shaded understory, going unnoticed most of the year until spring, when the large white flower-like bracts open up. Then we humans, as well as a host of insects, enjoy the dogwood show. In the photo here you can see the actual tiny flowers in the center of the bracts.

The common name comes from early use of the hard wood to make skewers or "dags." So "dagwood" eventually became "dogwood" according to several sources. Initially, explorer David Douglas thought this tree was identical to the eastern dogwoods. However, in 1835 Thomas Nutall noticed differences in their floral leaves. Hence the Latin name "nuttallii" for this western species.

Red Osier Dogwood

From looking at the dogwood tree, you would never know the Red Osier Dogwood shrub was at all related to the tree. However, its parts were extensively used by early native peoples. The slender branches were dried and used to spread fresh salmon for drying or roasting. A tonic tea was made from the bark and the bitter seeds were eaten by inland natives. You'll see these dogwoods blooming near wetlands or moist areas along roads or disturbed areas. They can grow up to 12 ft. tall in optimal habitats. The flowers are tiny, cream-colored, with four petals. They are arranged in large fist-sized clusters as shown below.

     

The namesake bark is red all year.

So now that we have been looking up at trees and shrubs, let's take a quick look down. While on a hike in the Oregon Coast Range last week we came across some just barely blooming Bunchberry (Cornus unalaschkensis), a.k.a., Dwarf Dogwood. You've probably seen this petite ground cover dweller growing higher up, in the Cascades, later in the year. Or you may remember seeing the bright red berries in the fall. As you can tell from the name, this plant is also in the Cornus genus, making it a close relative! It can grow up to sub-alpine elevations and is very hardy.

     

You'll notice in the photos the flowers in the center are not opened up yet. The way these flowers mature is interesting and different. When the flowers mature in the warmer summer weather, they remain closed until an unsuspecting insect triggers tiny antenna-like hair. This in turn causes the flower to burst, sending a cloud of pollen into the air and onto whatever triggered it.

In closing, remember to keep your eyes peeled in all directions while exploring. Who knows, you may even see some of these plant dogs as well as some canine dogs!

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More Cornus Information