Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Hardness
Very hard; tough on tools but extremely wear-resistant.
Overview
Exceptionally hard and shock-resistant with a smooth wearing surface, historically the wood for shuttles and bobbins. Small trees mean small, pricey stock.
Commonly built
- Mallets
- Turned handles
- Shuttles
- Pulleys
Appearance
Pale pinkish to creamy tan, fine and even-textured. Mostly pale sapwood with a small darker heart.
Recommended uses
Uses to avoid
Similar species
Comparable on hardness, type, and workability, useful when this species isn't available.
Working notes
Very hard and dense; hard on tools. Wears glassy-smooth, the reason it was used for textile shuttles. Comes in small sizes. High movement. Excellent for small turned and striking parts.
Wood movement
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn flowering dogwood panel moves roughly 0.68 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content). Use the wood movement calculator to run your own board size and moisture range.
How much does Flowering Dogwood move? → See flatsawn vs. quartersawn figures and a worked example.
Common questions
How hard is Flowering Dogwood?
Flowering Dogwood has a Janka hardness of 2150 lbf, a measure of how well it resists denting and wear.
Is Flowering Dogwood suitable for outdoor use?
Flowering Dogwood is best used indoors; it is not naturally suited to sustained outdoor or wet conditions.
How easy is Flowering Dogwood to work with?
Flowering Dogwood has Difficult workability for cutting, shaping, and joinery.
How much does Flowering Dogwood move seasonally?
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn flowering dogwood panel moves roughly 0.68 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content).
Community photos
Real photos from woodworkers who've used flowering dogwood, reviewed before they appear here.
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Wood data varies by source and sample. How we source and review our data.