Flowering dogwood

Overview

Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is a very hard, dense wood, at 2,150 lbf Janka and about 815 kg/m3 dried, according to the Wood Database. Boards and blanks are mostly pale pinkish sapwood with a fine, interlocked grain. It is used for turned objects, mallets, shuttles and golf club heads rather than furniture panels.

Pros

• Extremely hard (2,150 lbf).
• Fine, uniform texture.
• Decent results with hand and machine tools despite the density and interlocked grain.
• Glues, turns and finishes well.
• Used for golf club heads, textile shuttles, mallets and bows.

Cons

• Poor dimensional stability: shrinkage is 7.1% radial and 11.3% tangential, so it is generally used for standalone parts where it can expand and contract freely.
• Dulls cutters quickly.
• Mostly sapwood, which is non-durable to perishable and susceptible to insects.
• Not generally available commercially, and prices are high for a domestic hardwood.
• Boards and blanks are small.

Variants and subspecies

• Flowering dogwood (C. florida) is the species covered.
• Other dogwoods are distinct species and are not covered here.

Working and finishing

The Wood Database says dogwood tends to produce decent results with both hand and machine tools despite its density and interlocked grain, though it can have a blunting effect on cutters. It glues, turns and finishes well. Because of poor dimensional stability, use it for unglued, standalone components and avoid glued-up panels.

Staining and finishing colour

Most boards are cream to pale pinkish sapwood, with a narrow reddish-brown heartwood. The Wood Database says it finishes well. Test any stain on offcuts.

Sustainability and handling

The Wood Database reports flowering dogwood as not listed in the CITES Appendices (checked 2026-09-30) or on the IUCN Red List; Wikipedia's page gives Least Concern (2018). US-grown timber is still covered by the Lacey Act, which as amended in 2008 prohibits trade in plants and timber taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of law (Wikipedia's summary of the Act); buy from dealers who can name the source. The Wood Database reports no health effects beyond the standard risks of wood dust. The Wood Database's wood-dust article treats wood dust in general as an irritant or sensitizer and notes that fine dust can cause cumulative lung damage, so extract at the source and wear a respirator when sanding or machining.

Popular projects

Golf club heads, textile shuttles, archery bows, mallets, pulleys and turned objects, per the Wood Database.

Buying notes

Not generally available commercially; small quantities are harvested locally within its range. No retail list price was found, but the Wood Database says prices are high for a domestic hardwood. Expect mostly sapwood.