Project Overview
You're invited to participate in the Cloned and Native Flowering Dogwoods Campaign by obtaining a cloned dogwood (Cornus florida 'Appalachian Spring') and reporting phenology observations via Nature's Notebook. Your observations of dogwood life cycle events can enhance the decades of lilac phenology records that have been collected across the U.S. as part of the Cloned Plants Project.
You can also participate by tracking a native flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) that is already established in your yard. Comparing the phenology of this species with that of cloned dogwoods enhances our understanding of genetic and environmental influences on the plants. Observations of the common and cloned species at the same location are especially valuable for untangling these mysteries.
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The Dogwood Genome Project
Dogwoods have long been cultivated for their showy flowers and fine-grained wood. Recently, the market value of dogwoods has increased as demand for woody ornamentals grows in the U.S. To advance the breeding potential of these economically and culturally important trees and shrubs, scientists can use genetics and advanced genomics to study critical agronomic traits such as flowering time, flower characteristics, disease resistance and stress responses. The Dogwood Genome Project, led by researchers from University of Georgia, University of Tennessee, and North Carolina State University and funded by the National Science Foundation, is generating a reference genome sequence for the flowering dogwood clone (Cornus florida 'Appalachian Spring').
The Dogwood Genome Project will use phenology observations collected through Nature's Notebook for both native flowering dogwoods and cloned dogwoods by investigating the genes that may be influencing the timing of leaf-out, flowering and leaf-fall. Understanding the genetic basis of these phenological traits will help breeders develop varieties that are best suited for particular growing zones.
See what we are learning from this campaign
How to Participate
Join Nature's Notebook and select one or more dogwoods to track. Observe leafing and flowering ideally 2–3 times per week during spring, and log your data in Nature's Notebook. Need help getting started? Take the Observer Certification Course.
If you are tracking a cloned dogwood, make sure to select Cornus florida "Appalachian Spring" when adding the plant to your site.
Cloned and Native Flowering Dogwoods Species
- Appalachian Spring dogwood (Cornus florida-appalachianspring)
- flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)
Top 10 Contributing Programs
Local Phenology Programs with the most observation records submitted this year.
| # | Program | Observations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MAC Citizen Scientists | 10,628 |
| 2 | Salisbury University | 4,393 |
| 3 | Mohonk Preserve | 3,588 |
| 4 | WVU Core Arboretum | 2,956 |
| 5 | The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky | 2,420 |
| 6 | Great Smoky Mountains NP | 2,298 |
| 7 | Clifton Institute | 1,680 |
| 8 | VT Stadium Woods Phenology Project | 1,492 |
| 9 | Earthwise Aware | 1,490 |
| 10 | Mars Hill University Arboretum and Tree Trail | 1,366 |
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