“Have you noticed the beautiful dogwood trees on Highway 9?” asked Dot Chaney a few years ago; however, if she takes the drive on Highway 9 today, she will be disappointed to see road construction recently took out most of them. She had encouraged me to do research on this beautiful tree, the following was the result:

Dogwood can be seen scattered in wooded areas alongside roads as well as gracing cultivated landscapes. They can tolerate full sun but seem to grow best in partial shade. They adapt to varied soil, including sandy or heavy in clay. Needing slightly acidic soil, they are drought tolerant— only needing water in prolonged heat and droughts.

The state flower of North Carolina and Virginia and the state tree of Missouri, the Dogwood Tree was called “Dogtree” in 1548. “Dogtree” derived from “Dagwood” because of its slender stems being used to make daggers, arrows, and skewers. Later in 1614, its name changed to Dogwood. It is thought this name came from it being used to treat skin conditions like mange in dogs by boiling the wood, then washing their dogs in it.

Many Native American Indians used it for making toothbrushes, as well as daggers and arrows. Dogwood was considered to bring luck. Males ate Dogwood berries in religious ceremonies; however it isn’t recommended because they can cause gas and stomach pains—but they make an excellent food source for small wildlife in the winter.

Its bark and roots were used for medicine and dyes; however, the sap is toxic and often used as poison among some tribes. It was also mixed in tobacco for smoking sacred pipes. And, the flowering of Dogwood is said to signal time to plant corn.

Dogwood blooms come in pink, red, and white. Through Thomas Jefferson’s encouraging people to plant the tree, it became a popular choice ever since for landscaping. Its blooming in spring inspires Dogwood festivals nationwide.

The following is a legend written about the Dogwood, author unknown.

The Legend of the Dogwood: There is a legend that at the time of the Crucifixion the dogwood had been the size of the oak and other forest trees. So firm and strong was the tree that it was chosen as the timber for the cross. To be use thus for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the tree, and Jesus, nailed upon it, sensed this, and in His gentle pity for all sorrow and suffering said to it:

“Because of your regret and pity for My suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross. Henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross…two long and two short petals. And in the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints, brown with rust and stained with red, and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see it will remember.”

Another legend came from the Cherokees that believing that a tiny people lived amidst the Dogwoods and that this divine little race was sent to teach people to live in harmony with the woods. The “Dogwood People” were kind and they protected babies and took care of the old and infirm. It is said that when the Cherokee learned to speak English, they began to call the Dogwood people “brownies.”

Also, it is said that Indians shared their belief that the flowering of Dogwood signals time to plant corn.

I appreciate readers like Dot Chaney who make suggestions of what may interest readers of my column.