Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) is in the Dogwood family family (Cornaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,981 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Flowering Dogwood: observations by month (U.S.)
About Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida, the flowering dogwood, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cornaceae native to eastern North America and northern Mexico. An endemic population once spanned from southernmost coastal Maine south to northern Florida and west to the Mississippi River. The tree is commonly planted as an ornamental in residential and public areas because of its showy bracts and interesting bark structure.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Flowering Dogwood by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 399 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Ohio | 392 | May | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 359 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 345 | April | Apr–May |
| Maryland | 261 | April | Apr–Apr |
| New York | 232 | May | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 204 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Kentucky | 198 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Texas | 149 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Georgia | 144 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Missouri | 141 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Arkansas | 140 | April | Mar–Apr |
| New Jersey | 122 | May | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 116 | April | Apr–May |
| Alabama | 109 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Mississippi | 106 | March | Mar–Apr |
| West Virginia | 81 | April | Apr–Apr |
| South Carolina | 80 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 74 | May | May–May |
| Michigan | 69 | May | May–May |
| Oklahoma | 61 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Illinois | 50 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Florida | 47 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Connecticut | 33 | May | May–May |
| Delaware | 21 | April | Apr–May |
| Louisiana | 21 | March | Mar–Mar |
| District of Columbia | 14 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Rhode Island | 6 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Dogwood family)
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Flowering Dogwood?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Flowering Dogwood most often seen?
The most observations come from North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia.