Pacific Dogwood
Hul’q’umi’num: kwit-xulhp
Latin: Cornus nuttallii
Description: Kwit-xulhp is a flowering tree that grows up to 20 metres tall, though it can also take on a shrub-like form up to 3 metres tall. Its flowers feature flat, creamy-white bracts surrounding a greenish-white centre.
The deep red berries measure 1.5 cm across with a distinct dark tip.
The dark green leaves are oval-shaped with wavy edges. They cluster at the ends of the branches and turn purplish in the fall.
Harvest and Sustainability: The wood is harvestable year-round. It is over-harvested in some regions and should be harvested mindfully.
Uses: The wood is used to craft items such as bows, arrows, handles, and knitting needles.
Boiling the bark produces a deep brown dye, and it can also be brewed into a medicinal tea to relieve stomach problems, coughs, and fevers. Additionally, the bark is one of several traditional ingredients used in ten bark tea to treat tuberculosis.
Warning: The berries are non-edible and should not be consumed.
