North Carolina state flower: Dogwood
In 1941, the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation making dogwood the official state flower.The small, usually white, flowers grow on dogwood trees. Dogwoods are common in eastern United States and are particularly prevalent in North Carolina. These medium-sized trees are often wider than tall and blossom from early spring to the beginning of summer. Dogwoods bloom year-round, flower in the spring, produce small red, berry-like buds in the summer, and exhibit colorful foliage in the fall. Though the spring blossoms are usually white, they can vary from lighter shades of pink to deeper red-ish hues.
In further celebration of the state flower, some municipalities around the state host annual “Dogwood Festivals.”
Sources:
Floridata, Floridata: Cornus Florida, http://www.floridata.com/ref/c/cornus_f.cfm, (last accessed November 24, 2010); The Flower Expert, North Carolina State Flower, http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/aboutflowers/stateflowers/north-carolina-state-flowers, (last accessed November 24, 2010).
By Sara Riggins,
See Also:
Related Encyclopedia Entries: Grandfather Mountain, Mount Mitchell, Plott Hound: The State Dog, The Great Seal of the State of North Carolina, State Fruit: Scuppernong Grape, State Flag, Esse Quam Videri, North Carolina state beverage: Milk, State Dance: Clogging and Shagging, North Carolina state red berry: strawberry , North Carolina state blue berry: blueberries , North Carolina state Christmas tree: Fraser Fir, North Carolina state vegetable: sweet potato, Surry County (1771), Orange County (1752), O. Henry (1862 - 1910), Billy Graham (1918 - ), Richard Petty (1937 - ), Duplin County (1750), Wake County (1771)