Plant DetailShow Menu

Plants that fill a similar niche:
Ilex vomitoria Ilex vomitoria
Ilex verticillata ilex verticillata fruit and leaves
Hibiscus moscheutos Hibiscus moscheutos

Cornus amomum

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
KOR-nus ah-MOH-mum
Description

Silky Dogwood is a large deciduous shrub that is typically found in moist lowland areas, swamp borders, floodplains, shrub wetlands, and along streams and ponds in Eastern North America. Its preference is for part shade in rich moist soils but will tolerate almost full shade. If the stems touch the ground they will root and the plant can form thickets in the wild.

The showy white spring flowers are followed by blue fruits that the birds will happily eat. 

Problems: Susceptible to scale. Other insect pests include borers and leaf miners. Infrequent disease problems include leaf spot, crown canker, blights, root rot and powdery mildew.

Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#bees#butterflies#deciduous#birds#rain garden#wildlife plant#showy#native tree#nectar plant#riparian#wetlands#host#hedges#wet sites#pond margins#specialized bees#cpp#fire#medium flammability#pollinator plant#nesting sites#native
 
Cornus amomum
Form John Bonser CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Cornus amomum
Blooms Kent McFarland CC BY-NC 2.0
Cornus amomum
Foliage and fruits. Dan Mullan CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Cornus amomum
Fruits, purple drupes J. Michael Raby CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Cornus amomum
Twigs Kent McFarland CC BY-NC 2.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#bees#butterflies#deciduous#birds#rain garden#wildlife plant#showy#native tree#nectar plant#riparian#wetlands#host#hedges#wet sites#pond margins#specialized bees#cpp#fire#medium flammability#pollinator plant#nesting sites#native
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Cornus
    Species:
    amomum
    Family:
    Cornaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    the bark was used by Native Americans as tobacco.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Distribution:
    New Foundland to Ontario south to Missouri, Mississippi and Florida
    Fire Risk Rating:
    medium flammability
    Wildlife Value:
    It is the host plant for the spring/summer Azure butterflies. Butterflies nectar at its blooms. Its fruits are eaten by songbirds, ruffed grouse, quail, turkey, chipmunks, black bear, foxes, white-tailed deer, skunks, and squirrels. The foliage is browsed by white-tailed deer. Members of the genus Cornus support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Gonandrena) fragilis, Andrena (Gonandrena) integra, and Andrena (Gonandrena) platyparia.
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Wildlife Cover/Habitat
    Wildlife Food Source
    Wildlife Nesting
    Dimensions:
    Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Shrub
    Tree
    Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Open
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    12-24 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Blue
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Fruit Description:
    The round drupes change from white to blue as they ripen in late summer (August).
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Tiny whitish-yellow flowers are borne in flat-topped cymes up to 2.5 inches across. Individual flowers are about 3/8 inch wide with 4 petals and four long stamens.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Insignificant
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Undulate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    2-5 inch long green leaves are oval to elliptic, have conspicuous veins and hairs on the undersides.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Surface/Attachment:
    Fissured
    Bark Description:
    The bark in young trees is red-purple and smooth.  As the tree/shrub ages, the bark turns brown and develops shallow fissures.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Reddish stems have brown pith and silky hairs
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Pond
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Rain Garden
    Design Feature:
    Flowering Tree
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Specialized Bees
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Black Walnut
    Deer
    Erosion
    Wet Soil