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Flowering Trees
in the
Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway Area
Redbuds in bloom in April
along the Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus Florida
A common misconception of the Dogwood is that has a large and
showy white flower. In reality, the Dogwood produces a dense cluster of tiny
yellow-green flowers that are surrounded by four, large, white
petal-like bracts.
The flowers bloom in April and May.
Did you know? The common name for the Dogwood comes from a custom in
England of washing dogs with a concoction made from dogwood bark to cure mange.
Native Americans used parts
of the dogwood tree for a variety of illnesses. A drink can be made from the
bark, flowers, and fruit to reduce fever and relieve chills.
Redbud
Cercis canadensis
The Redbud's red-purple flowers are arranged in clusters.
The flowers bloom in April and May.
Did you know? The Redbud is one of the few trees where the flowers
develop directly on the trunk, limbs and young twigs. Redbud flower buds,
flowers and young legumes are edible raw or cooked. Native Americans of
several tribes used redbud extracts (inner bark and roots) for colds, flu
and fever, and its stems for basketry.
White Oak
Quercus alba
The male and female flowers of the White Oak grow are separately but on the
same tree. These tiny flowers lack petals. The yellow male flowers are
arranged in drooping spikes. The red female flowers come in small clusters.
The flowers bloom in April and May.
Did you know? White Oak is a durable wood and was used to build the famous battleship
U.S.S. Constitution, which was nicknamed "Old Ironsides" because cannonballs bounced off its
sides. Illinois school children voted the oak as the state tree in 1907, and in 1973 they voted the
White Oak as the official state tree. White Oaks have been known to live as long as 400 years.
Sassafras
Sassafras albidum
The male and female flowers of the Sassafras develop before its leaves and
are produced on separate trees. These green-yellow flowers develop in small
clusters.
The flowers bloom in April and May.
Did you know? The bark of the roots is used to make sassafras tea and to flavor root
beer.
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum
The small, yellow-green flowers of the Sugar Maple are borne in clusters.
Male and female flowers are separate, and they may or may not be located on
the same tree.
The flowers bloom in April and May.
Did you know? Saccharum is the Latin name for sugar cane and maple
syrup is made from the sap of this tree. It takes about 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup.
The pileated woodpecker and screech owl may make their nests in maples. The Sugar Maple is the
national tree of Canada and a stylized version of its leaf is the central feature of the Canadian flag.
Shagbark Hickory
Carya ovata
The male and female flowers of the Shagbark Hickory grow separately but on
the same plant, appearing after the leaves have begun to unfold. The male
flowers are conspicuous and come in slender, drooping spikes called catkins.
The green female flowers come in clusters of 2-5 and are small and easily
overlooked.
The flowers bloom in May and June.
Did you know? The wood is heavy, hard, and strong, and used for tool
handles and to give a smoked flavor to meats. The nuts are eaten by both man
and wildlife. Native Americans crushed the kernel, using the oil for cooking
and the resulting flour for bread.
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