The flowering dogwood is the official state flower of North Carolina — a small tree whose white or pink blooms open across the state each spring.

• Official flower: Dogwood
• Scientific name: Cornus florida
• Year adopted: 1941
• Native range: the eastern U.S.

About the dogwood

North Carolina adopted the dogwood in 1941. What appear to be four broad petals are actually bracts surrounding the true, tiny flowers at the center. The dogwood blooms early, brightening woodland edges before the trees leaf out.

Where it grows

The flowering dogwood is native to the eastern United States and grows throughout North Carolina’s forests and gardens, blooming in early to mid-spring.

North Carolina state flower FAQs

What is the state flower of North Carolina?

North Carolina’s state flower is the dogwood (Cornus florida), which it adopted in 1941.

When did North Carolina adopt its state flower?

North Carolina designated the dogwood as its official state flower in 1941.

When does dogwood bloom in North Carolina?

Dogwoods bloom across North Carolina in early to mid-spring, typically from late March through April, opening before the forest canopy fills in.

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