Tree Notes: Wild redbuds and dogwoods

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Wild redbuds and dogwoods

Cercis canadensis and Cornus florida

The redbuds and dogwoods are blooming right now (mid-April) in south-central Kentucky. At this time of the year, I love driving the rural backroads of Christian County and seeing the wild redbuds and dogwoods blooming in the woods.

I don't see much difference between the wild redbuds in the woods and the redbuds in towns, even though many of the hand-planted redbuds are probably cultivars. However, I do notice that most wild dogwoods have smaller, greener blossoms than the hand-planted dogwoods growing on lawns. The blossom size is bigger and the color is whiter in the cultivars.

Our trees in this part of Kentucky had a very hard winter. Many of them suffered a great deal of damage in the massive ice storm that hit this area. You can see broken limbs and a fallen tree in the foreground of the photo below.

However, the trees are responding to spring. They have wounds to heal and their injuries may shorten their lives, but they are blooming and beginning to leaf. Those are dogwoods blooming, on the opposite side of the pond.

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Enrich your life with the study of trees.

Print references I frequently consult

Benvie, Sam. Encyclopedia of North American Trees. Buffalo, NY: Firefly, 2000.

Brockman, C. Frank. Trees of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Ed. Herbert S. Zim. New York: Golden, 1986.

Cliburn, Jerry, and Ginny Clomps. A Key to Missouri Trees in Winter: An Identification Guide. Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri, 1980.

Collingwood, G. H., Warren David Brush, and Devereux Butcher. Knowing Your Trees. Washington: American Forestry Association, 1978.

Dirr, Michael. Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs: an Illustrated Encyclopedia. Portland, Or.: Timber, 1997.

Elias, Thomas S. The Complete Trees of North America; Field Guide and Natural History. New York: Book Division, Times Mirror Magazines, 1980.

Grimm, William Carey. The Book of Trees;. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole, 1962.

Hightshoe, Gary L. Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines for Urban and Rural America: a Planting Design Manual for Environmental Designers. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1988.

Little, Elbert L. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees. New York: Chanticleer, 1996.

Martin, Alexander C., Herbert S. Zim, and Arnold L. Nelson. American Wildlife and Plants. New York: McGraw Hill, 1951.

Mitchell, Alan F., and David More. The Trees of North America. New York, NY: Facts On File Publications, 1987.

Randall, Charles E. Enjoying Our Trees. Washington: American Forestry Association, 1969.

Settergren, Carl D., and R. E. McDermott. Trees of Missouri. Columbia: University Extension, 1995.

Sternberg, Guy, and James W. Wilson. Native Trees for North American Landscapes: from the Atlantic to the Rockies. Portland: Timber, 2004.

Wharton, Mary E., and Roger W. Barbour. Trees and Shrubs of Kentucky. Lexington: University of Kentucky, 1973.

Wyman, Donald. Trees for American Gardens. New York: Macmillan, 1965.

Tree Notes