A dogwood is a type of tree or large shrub known for its beautiful flowers that bloom in spring. What look like four large white or pink petals are actually special leaves called bracts that surround the real flowers in the center. These showy bracts make dogwoods one of the most recognizable flowering trees in North America.

Dogwoods grow wild in forests across the eastern United States and are also popular as ornamental trees in yards and parks. In autumn, their leaves turn brilliant shades of red and purple, and they produce small red berries that birds love to eat. The wood is extremely hard and smooth, which is why it was historically used to make tools, arrows, and even weaving shuttles.

The most common species is the flowering dogwood, which can grow 15 to 30 feet tall. Another species, the Pacific dogwood, grows in western North America and is the official flower of British Columbia. When you see a tree covered in what looks like white flowers in early spring, often before other trees have fully leafed out, you're probably looking at a dogwood tree.