Can you tell me what tree these leaves are from?
Meacia Asked
Can you tell me what tree these leaves are from? The trees are in Daniel Boone National Park.
Thanks for any information
The Gardener’s Answer
Hi, Meacia: The leaves in the picture that you sent belong to a flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). These small trees can reach 15-30 feet tall and wide. They are native to Eastern North America. As you witnessed, they are commonly found as an understory tree in forested areas. These trees have year-round interest -They are early spring bloomers and produce fruit that ripens to a bright red in the late summer. The foliage turns a lovely reddish/purple in the fall and the interesting growth habit provides winter interest. If you are interested in growing one, there are over 100 cultivars available to the home gardener.