Overview
The Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii), celebrated as the official floral emblem of British Columbia, is a breathtaking deciduous forest tree native to the mossy, temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest. Famous for producing the largest, most spectacular floral display of any dogwood on Earth, it illuminates shady conifer understories each spring with dinner-plate-sized constellations of snowy-white blossom bracts.
Biology and Physical Characteristics
Cornus nuttallii features a slender, graceful trunk covered in smooth, dark grey bark that develops small square scaly plates with age. Unlike the eastern flowering dogwood which bears four notched bracts, the Pacific Dogwood produces four to seven (typically six) colossal, petal-like white to cream bracts that span up to 15 cm across, surrounding a central button of tiny greenish true flowers. In autumn, it produces tight clusters of bright orange-red berries.
Behavior and Ecology
Adapted to growing in the dappled shade of towering Douglas firs, western redcedars, and bigleaf maples, the Pacific Dogwood is a vital understory component. In autumn, its broad oval leaves ignite into rich shades of deep plum, crimson, and burnt orange, while its nutrient-dense scarlet berries provide an indispensable autumn feast for migrating thrushes, band-tailed pigeons, and black bears.
Conservation and Human Impact
Assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, Cornus nuttallii is widely protected in coastal provincial and national parks. However, since the late 20th century, wild populations have been heavily impacted by dogwood anthracnose (Discula destructiva), an introduced fungal pathogen that causes leaf blight and twig dieback, prompting dedicated breeding of disease-resistant strains.
Interesting Factoid
The Pacific Dogwood bears the largest flowers of any dogwood species in the world, with dazzling white blossoms spanning over six inches wide that frequently bloom a second time in late summer alongside their own bright red autumn berries.