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Tried and True Native Plant Selections
for the Mid-Atlantic
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Benthamidia* florida (Flowering Dogwood)
Commonly found in the forest understory or as a landscape ornamental, this high wildlife value native** with four-season interest is far from ordinary. This beauty serves as North Carolina state flower and Missouri state tree. In Virginia, it is both official floral and arboreal emblems. The Virginia Native Plant Society honored Flowering Dogwood as Wildflower of the Year in 2018.
*Synonymous with Cornus florida as it was known before traditional Cornus was split into several genera.
**Mostly common in the Mid-Atlantic Region (although less so since the arrival of anthracnose). You can view the VA counties in which it has been reported here.
Learn more about other Mid-Atlantic plants:
Tried and True Native Plant Fact Sheets