The Legend of the Dogwood has it that at the time of Christ, the Dogwood was one of the largest trees in the forest, standing tall with a very straight trunk, which is why it was chosen to be the tree from which the cross was made.

The legend goes on to say that after the crucifixion, the Dogwood never again grew to heights of grandeur but instead has a trunk of twisted, small branches growing only to a short height. Never again could it be used to build a cross of crucifixion.

The legend says, as a reminder of its past, the petal of each flower on the Dogwood shows a nail print stained with red, the center like a crown of thorns, and in the fall, there appear clusters of red berries, each shaped like a drop of blood.