Cornus nuttallii

Cornus nuttallii, known as the Pacific dogwood, western dogwood, or mountain dogwood, is a beautiful tree that grows naturally in western North America. This tree belongs to the dogwood family and is cherished for its bright green leaves and lovely white flowers that bloom in spring. In the spring, the tree becomes a sight to see with its clusters of creamy white blossoms that attract many visitors and wildlife.

The Pacific dogwood is not only admired for its looks but also holds cultural importance for the Hul'q'umi'num'-speaking nations, who call it Kwi’txulhp. This tree has been a part of the landscape for thousands of years and continues to grow in forests, mountains, and along riversides. Its strong wood has been used by people for making tools and other useful items.

Today, the Pacific dogwood is also the official state tree of Washington and British Columbia, showing how much it is valued in these places. It is a symbol of natural beauty and strength, reminding us of the rich environment and traditions of the area.

Description

The Pacific dogwood is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree that can grow between 6 and 23 metres (20 to 75 feet) tall. Its habit changes with how much sunlight it gets; in full sun, it has a short trunk and a wide crown, while in shade, it has a tapered trunk and a narrow crown. The trunk can be 15 to 30 centimetres (6 to 12 inches) wide and has reddish-brown bark.

Its leaves are oval-shaped, measuring 5 to 13 centimetres (2 to 5 inches) long and 3.8 to 7.1 centimetres (1 1/2 to 3 inches) wide. The leaves are green on top with fine hairs and lighter and hairier underneath. In autumn, they change colour to orange or purplish.

The flowers are small, only 2 to 3 millimetres (1/16 to 1/8 inch) across, and grow in a dense, rounded cluster about 2 centimetres (3/4 inch) wide. Though the actual flowers are tiny, they are surrounded by large, white bracts that look like petals, making the flower appear larger. These flowers bloom twice each season—once in spring and again in late summer or early fall.

The fruit appears in September or October and is a pink-red or orange drupe about 1 to 1.5 centimetres (1/2 inch) long. The fruits grow in clusters of 20 to 40 small parts, each containing two seeds. These fruits do not taste good.

Etymology

In 1806, Meriwether Lewis noticed that this type of tree looked similar to another called C. florida. Later, a Scottish botanist named David Douglas saw the tree during his travels in the Pacific Northwest in the 1820s. He thought it was the same as C. florida and did not send any seeds back to England.

An English botanist, Thomas Nuttall, was the first to officially describe the tree for science in 1834 while he was staying at Fort Vancouver. The tree was named nuttallii in his honor by his friend John James Audubon.

The common names for this tree come from an older type of dogwood, Cornus sanguinea, whose hard wood was used by Northern Europeans long ago to make nails.

Distribution and habitat

The Pacific dogwood grows in western North America, from the lowlands of southern British Columbia to the mountains of southern California. There is also a small group of trees in central Idaho, where they are rare. These trees usually grow below 1,500 metres (4,900 feet) in height.

They are often found near streams where the soil is moist but drains well, usually on gentle slopes. They can grow in different types of soil, from clay to sandy loam, and prefer soil that is rich in organic matter and slightly acidic. They do not survive well in very cold areas.

Ecology

The Pacific dogwood offers food and shelter to many animals. Young growth is eaten by wild and domestic animals like deer, especially after a fire, though older leaves are usually ignored except by creatures like slugs. The fruits are a favorite snack for deer mice, pileated woodpeckers, band-tailed pigeons, and bears. Small birds like Wilson's warbler and mammals such as the red tree vole find safe places to live in its branches.

This tree can get sick with a disease called anthracnose, caused by a fungus. This disease is worst from May to July when it’s moist, causing leaves to drop and damaging twigs. It has caused many big trees to die and makes it hard to grow as an ornamental plant.

The Pacific dogwood can grow in many different places, from brand-new areas after a volcanic eruption to mature forests. It can live in shade but likes sunlight when it’s humid. It survives different types of fires and can grow back after a fire, though the new growth might be eaten by deer.

Uses

Some Plateau Indian tribes, like the Nlaka'pamux, used the bark from this tree as a brown dye. They also used it for healing, such as cleaning the blood, helping the lungs, treating the stomach, and acting as a laxative and emetic.

Today, people mainly grow this tree for its beautiful looks as an ornamental.

In culture

The Pacific dogwood is the official flower of British Columbia. It was named the provincial flower in 1956. For many years, there were special laws to protect this tree, along with other plants like the Rhododendron macrophyllum and Trillium ovatum. However, these protection laws were changed in 2002.