The Legend of the Dogwood The Dogwood, tall and strong as an oak,was used to make the cross upon which Jesus was crucified. The Dogwwod was greatly distressed at its role, and sorrowful for his suffering. Sensing this, Jesus decreed that never again would the Dogwood grow large enough to be used as a cross and that," from this time on you shall be slim and twisted, and your blossoms shall be in the form of a cross. At the tip of each petal there shall be nail marks, rusty brown and red stained, and in the center of the bloom will be seen a crown of thorns, that all who behold the Dogwood and its flowers shall remember" !