Alphabetical Plant Listing

Cornus amomum (Silky Dogwood)

Silky Dogwood, Red Willow, Silky Cornel, Swida amomum


Cornus amomum (Silky Dogwood) is a vigorous, spreading deciduous shrub of open-rounded habit when mature. It boasts purple-red stems and oval to elliptic, medium to dark green leaves, 2-5 in. long (5-12 cm), covered with silky hairs underneath. New growth twigs can be greenish purple though dormant twigs are typically dark reddish purple, densely covered with fine hairs. Flat-topped clusters of tiny, creamy-white flowers, 2 in. wide (5 cm), appear in late spring to early summer. While not particularly showy, they give way to attractive clusters of white berries, turning almost porcelain-blue as they ripen in late summer. The berries are greedily devoured by birds. The summer foliage may turn reddish purple in fall. Adaptable to sun or shade, Silky Dogwood is a fine choice for moist woodlands, shrub borders, naturalized areas, along streams/ponds or for erosion control.

  • Grows up to 6-12 ft. tall and wide (180-360 cm). Promptly remove root suckers if colonial spread is not desired.
  • Performs best in full sun to part shade, in organically rich, medium to wet, slightly acidic, well-drained soils. Tolerates close to full shade.
  • No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for scale, borers and leaf miner. Deer resistant
  • Great choice for shrub borders, rain gardens, along ponds and streams, or planted in naturalistic plantings where it can freely spread and form thickets.
  • Propagate by hardwood cuttings.
  • Native to Eastern North America.

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Requirements

Hardiness 5 – 8
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Cornus - Dogwoods
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 6' – 12' (180cm – 3.6m)
Spread 6' – 12' (180cm – 3.6m)
Spacing 120" – 144" (300cm – 360cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low, Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Tolerance Deer, Wet Soil
Attracts Birds
Garden Uses Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

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Wendy Cutler, Toni Genberg, Flickr, Peter Turner Photography, Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 5 – 8
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Cornus - Dogwoods
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 6' – 12' (180cm – 3.6m)
Spread 6' – 12' (180cm – 3.6m)
Spacing 120" – 144" (300cm – 360cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low, Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Tolerance Deer, Wet Soil
Attracts Birds
Garden Uses Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Cornus - Dogwoods

Guides with Cornus - Dogwoods

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