The slender stems of this very hard wood were used for making daggers and skewers.
Cornus wood was also highly prized for making other small items that required a very hard and strong wood.
Today, dogwoods are more appreciated for their super good looks rather than their practical roles.
In addition to their ornamental triumph, their hardiness and ability to grow well in a wide range of soils is a recipe for success and popularity.
The wide variety of dogwoods makes them a most interesting group of plants Cornus alba and C. stolonifera and their many cultivars are celebrated through autumn and winter for the changing foliage followed by bright red and bright yellow stems. The flowering dogwoods, such as Cornus florida, C. kousa and C. nuttallii, are also grown for their stunning autumn colour, but it is their large white or pink bracts in early summer they are ultimately recognised for.
Many Cornus species have attractive fruit in autumn, coloured white, blue or shades of red through to black. Birds are attracted to the fruit of many species.
The plump crimson, strawberry-textured drupe of Cornus capitata is devoured by birds each year as it becomes fully ripe.
The cornelian cherry, Cornus mas is in full flower at present.
The bright yellow flowers are borne in profusion on short spurs, on the previous year's wood. The spacious tiered form of Cornus controversa, "Variegata", has aptly been dubbed the wedding cake tree and in flower it definitely seems as if someone has painted some icing on the cake.
A variety of dogwood is located in the lower botanic garden theme borders, adjacent to Great King St.
Marianne Groothuis is the collection curator of the theme and camellia plant collection.
