Cascading Dogwood Copyright Mary Lee Parker 17,

Title

Cascading Dogwood Copyright Mary Lee Parker 17,

Artist

MaryLee Parker

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Photograph - Photograph

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Dogwood History

iStock_000005796756SmallWhile Dogwoods have been around for generations, the English language developed the phrase, “Dogtree” for them in 1548. It derived from the word “Dagwood” because slender stems were used for making narrow items, like dags or daggers, arrows, and skewers. Basically small items that needed hard wood. Later in 1614 the name changed to Dogwood.

Some suggest that the tree was called the Dogwood because when the wind blows and the branches knock together it sounds like a dog barking. Also, to treat skin conditions like mange in dogs, people boiled the wood in water, then washed their dogs in the Dogwood water.

iStock_000004579006SmallWhile in Europe the wood of Dogwoods was being used for items like arrows and the first types of tennis rackets, Native Americans were using Dogwoods for a variety of things as well. Many Indians used Dogwoods for making toothbrushes, as well as daggers and arrows like Europeans. Dogwoods were seen as lucky, and masculine. Males often ate Dogwood berries in religious ceremonies. The bark and roots were used for medicines and dyes. However, the sap is toxic and was often used as poison among some tribes!

Also, Native Americans used inner Dogwood bark in a special tobacco mixture, used in sacred pipes. When Dogwoods busted with blooms they signaled that it was time for Native American’s to plant corn. This is our favorite Dogwood Tree use! It meant that winter ended, and the growing season had begun!

Dogwoods as Ornamental Trees

Dogwood-StreetThe cultivation of Dogwoods to be used as beautiful ornamental trees started around the 1730s. People were taking notice of Dogwood’s compact size, large blooms in pink, red, and white, and weaving, curvy branches.

Thomas Jefferson actually encouraged the growth of Dogwood Trees at his home in Monticello, Virginia. This led to this tree taking off in popularity. Many Southern states encourage using Dogwoods as beautiful landscaping trees.

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May 16th, 2017

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