Flowering dogwood grows from extreme southwestern Maine to eastern Kansas, south to eastern Texas and Florida. You can find flowering dogwood trees in well-drained, light upland soils to deep, moist soils along streams, and lower slopes.

It grows near or under many taller trees including some of the hickories, oaks, tulip tree, pines, red maple, and American beech. It also occurs with smaller trees and shrubs such as redbud and hawthorns.

Flowering dogwood is fast growing, short-lived, and bears clusters of showy, white to pinkish-white flowers appearing before leaves unfold in the spring. Flowering is followed by red, berry-like fruits that are valuable to wildlife.