Silky Dogwood
Cornus amomum
- Native to:
- United States
iNaturalist: © tsn (iNaturalist #32099420)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Cornaceae
- Genus:
- Cornus
- Species:
- Cornus amomum
- USDA Symbol:
- COAM2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub
- Height:
- 300 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, butterflies, small mammals
- Fall Color:
- red, purple
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from the root crown following fire or cutting.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, moist, well-drained loam
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found in wetlands and along streams.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 60–120 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–90 days
- Notes:
- Requires warm stratification (60-90 days) followed by cold stratification (60-120 days). Germination can be erratic over two seasons.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are treated and sown in early October with a Love seeder set at 3rd gear at 9 setting into prepared field beds.
Establishment: Seeds are purchased from local people who collect within a 50 mile radius of the nursery. Fruits are one seeded drupes that are white to blue at maturity. Fruits are typically 4 to 7 mm (0.15 to 0.27 in) in diameter, white or bluish tinged, and mature from August to October. Each fruit contains a single bony stone that contains 1 or 2 seeds. Mature seeds are round, grey to light brown in color. Silky dogwood is found from The Upper Midwestern and New England states south to Mississippi to Florida and west to Iowa and Missouri. Seed sources are from south central Missouri.
Source: npn.rngr.net