Flowering dogwood trees are a common sight in April. The large white flowers really stand out along woodland edges. But did you know that those white petals are not flowers?
The white part of the dogwood blossom is a flower bract. They are special leaves that protect the flower. Take a closer look at the inside of the dogwood blossom.
The dogwood flower is actually a cluster of flowers at the center of the bracts. They are green when the bracts start to open. As the flower buds mature, they turn yellow. For a few days, the four-petaled yellow flowers open for pollinators to visit.
Take another look at the dogwood trees this spring.