Dogwood trees can be grown in almost any climate except arid climates or very "wet" climates. These spring blooming trees are available in 50 different varieties with flowers ranging in various shades of white, yellow, pink and red. The wood  from the trees is used for golf club heads, mallets and tools. The roots providing dyes. 

The name Dogwood can be linked to three different names for these trees:  "dagwood" from usuing the tree limbs to make daggers

"whippletree" the piece of wood that connects the cart and the horse's harness

"dog tree" in 1548 was introduced into English