Cornus amomum
Native to eastern North America, this moisture-loving, deciduous shrub thrives in wet areas, forms a multi-stemmed habit, bears creamy white flat-topped flowers in late spring, and features blue drupes in late summer, with red stems used for erosion control and wildlife habitat.
Common Names
Silky Dogwood, Silky Cornel, Red Willow, Swamp Dogwood, Kinnikinnik, Pale Dogwood
Summary
Cornus amomum is a native eastern North American, deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub with an open rounded habit, typically 6–12 feet tall and wide. It features purple-red stems and dark green, opposite leaves 2–4 inches long that are elliptic to oval with silky hairs on the undersides. Creamy-white flowers appear in flat-topped clusters in late spring to early summer, followed by blue drupes about 1/4 inch across that birds readily eat; fall foliage may turn reddish-purple, and the plant can form thickets when undisturbed. In cultivation, it tolerates full sun to partial shade and moist to wet soils, with a wide pH tolerance from acidic to neutral; hardy to USDA zones 4–8. It is deer resistant and valued for erosion control, stream banks, and wildlife borders, while providing habitat for birds and pollinators; pruning may be needed to maintain shape, and it can be propagated by hardwood cuttings. Pests such as scale insects and leaf miners may occur, and diseases such as cornus anthracnose and honey fungus have been noted.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
6-10 feet
Spread
72-120 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4-8
Sunlight Requirements
Ideal Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade; Full Shade tolerated.
Soil Type
Loamy, moist, well-drained soil with pH about 5–7.
Soil Drainage
Moist but well-drained soil
Soil pH
Tolerates all pH levels
Bloom Color
White
Bloom Time
Late spring to early summer (May–June)
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
reddish-purple to burgundy
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Moderate growth; about 1–2 feet per year
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Layering
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, birds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Mill.
- Publication
- Gard. Dict., ed. 8. : n.° 5 (1768)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Cornales
- Family
- Cornaceae
- Genus
- Cornus
Synonyms
Cornus coerulea Cornus amomum subsp. amomum Cornus amomum var. schuetzeana Cornus sericea var. schuetzeana Cornus atrata Cornus cyanocarpus Cornus ferulacea Cornus ferulifolia Cornus ignorata Cornus lanuginosa Cornus mexicana Cornus minor Cornus oblongifolia Cornus polygama Cornus amomum var. amomum Swida amomum var. schuetzeana Swida amomum Thelycrania amomum Cornus cyanocarpa var. albescens Cornus ferruginea Cornus rubiginosa