Here in the South, there is one tree deserving of all the springtime adulation it gets—the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). Maybe it's because they're native and grow wild in our woods.

The flowering dogwood carries a powerful history and a ... In terms of location, flowering dogwoods grow well in partially shaded areas, such as the understory of larger trees.

A popular ornamental tree, flowering dogwood occurs naturally in many forested regions ... small fires to clear out the understory and allow new trees to grow. A recent history of fire suppression, ...