Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Cornaceae
- Genus:
- Cornus
- Species:
- Cornus sericea
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 12-20 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may, jun
- Bloom Colors:
- White
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Native Range
United States: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming, Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆
Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
- Bee Keystone:
- ★★★★★
Based on number of native bee species using this genus for pollen and nectar (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Ailanthus silkmoth (Samia cynthia), Allen's Aphelia (Aphelia alleniana), Antispila aurirubra, Caloptilia cornusella, Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), common gray (Anavitrinella pampinaria), Dimorphic Bomolocha Moth (Hypena bijugalis), Effecta Euchlaena Moth (Euchlaena effecta), Epinotia lindana, Eulithis xylina, Euplexia benesimilis, fragile white carpet moth (Hydrelia albifera), friendly probole (Probole amicaria), funeral dagger moth (Acronicta funeralis), George's pinion (Lithophane georgii), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), herminia moth (Eudeilinia herminiata), hibiscus Quaker (Orthosia hibisci), Johnson's euchlaena moth (Euchlaena johnsonaria), least-marked euchlaena moth (Euchlaena irraria), Lycia rachelae, Nevada buckmoth (Hemileuca nevadensis-complex), Ochre Euchlaena (Euchlaena marginaria), Olethreutes punctanum, Oligia mactata, One-spotted variant moth (Hypagyrtis unipunctata), Pandemis leafroller (Pandemis pyrusana), Papestra cristifera, Saw-winged Euchlaena Moth (Euchlaena serrata), Walker’s Atlas Moth (Samia walkeri), woolly gray (Lycia ursaria), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus) Butterflies:Arrowhead Blue (Glaucopsyche piasus), Arrowhead Blue (Glaucopsyche piasus), Boisduval's Blue (Icaricia icarioides), Boisduval's Blue (Icaricia icarioides), Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus), Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus), California Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis californica), California Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis californica), Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice), Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice), Common Ringlet (North America) (Coenonympha california), Common Ringlet (North America) (Coenonympha california), Common Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes vialis), Common Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes vialis), Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala), Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala), Dreamy Duskywing (Erynnis icelus), Dreamy Duskywing (Erynnis icelus), (Pieris napi), (Pieris napi), Juba Skipper (Hesperia juba), Juba Skipper (Hesperia juba), Julia Orangetip (Anthocharis julia), Julia Orangetip (Anthocharis julia), Lorquin's Admiral (Limenitis lorquini), Lorquin's Admiral (Limenitis lorquini), Lustrous Copper (Lycaena cupreus), Lustrous Copper (Lycaena cupreus), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), Pale Swallowtail (Pterourus eurymedon), Purplish Copper (Lycaena helloides), Purplish Copper (Lycaena helloides), Satyr Comma (Polygonia satyrus), Satyr Comma (Polygonia satyrus), Sheridan's Green Hairstreak (Callophrys sheridanii), Sheridan's Green Hairstreak (Callophrys sheridanii), Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus), Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus), Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon), Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon), Western Pine Elfin (Callophrys eryphon), Western Pine Elfin (Callophrys eryphon), Western Tailed-Blue (Cupido amyntula), Western Tailed-Blue (Cupido amyntula), Western Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus rutulus)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, moisture-retentive loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Prefers wetland areas and riparian zones
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Mix an equal amount of seeds with either perlite or vermiculite in a Ziploc-style bag or a small Rubbermaid-style container. Add a small amount of water. Cold store in a refrigerator or cold garage (33-42 degrees F) for at least 2-3 months. Seeds can be stored up to 3 years.
Establishment: Seed is collected by hand from locally native plants in the eastern central Upper Peninsula. Flowers from June to August. Seed is a white berry (drupe). Seed is harvested in September and October. The plant is typically found in marshes, swamps, wet shores, sides of rivers and streams, on rock out crops and talus slopes, coniferous and mixed thickets on shores and on sand dunes.
Source: npn.rngr.net
