Silky Dogwood: A Versatile Shrub for Your Landscape
Overview
Silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) is a deciduous shrub native to eastern North America. Known for its attractive flowers, berries, and fall foliage, this versatile plant offers many benefits in the landscape.
Characteristics
- Common Name: Silky dogwood
- Botanical Name: Cornus amomum
- Family: Cornaceae
- Plant Type: Shrub
- Mature Size: 6-12 feet tall and wide
- Sun Exposure: Partial sun to full shade
- Soil Type: Loamy, well-drained, acidic
- Soil pH: 5-7
- Bloom Time: May and June
- Flower Color: Creamy white
- Hardiness Zones: USDA zones 5-8
- Native Area: North America
Benefits
- Erosion Control: Silky dogwood’s dense thicket-forming habit helps stabilize slopes and prevent erosion.
- Pollinator and Wildlife Attraction: Its spring flowers and summer berries provide nectar and food for butterflies, birds, and bees, while its fall foliage and winter bark offer shelter and nesting sites for wildlife.
- Ornamental Value: The shrub’s attractive flowers, fall foliage, and winter bark add year-round interest to the landscape.
Care Requirements
Light: Silky dogwood grows best in partial sun, but it can also tolerate full sun or full shade.
Soil: Well-drained, acidic soil is ideal. The shrub can tolerate clay-like soil, but it may not thrive as well.
Water: Water newly planted shrubs weekly and deeply until they become established. Established plants generally do not require additional water unless there is a drought or they are in a full sun location.
Temperature and Humidity: Silky dogwoods are hardy to USDA zones 5-8 and can handle frosty winter weather. They prefer cool, moist soil in the summer, so mulching around the root zone is recommended.
Fertilizer: Fertilization is not necessary for silky dogwood. In fact, excessive nitrogen fertilization can reduce flowering.
Types
- C. amomum ‘Indigo’: Small white flowers and blue fruits
- Cornus obliqua: Commonly mistaken for silky dogwood; slight differences in leaf hairs
- Red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea): Red-colored branches and berries remain white
Propagation
Silky dogwood can be propagated through layering, cutting, or seed.
Pruning
Pruning is important for maintaining the shape and health of silky dogwood. Remove unwanted growth, trim suckers, and cut back dead or damaged branches. Mature shrubs can tolerate removal of one main stem down to ground level.
Growing from Seed
Seeds can be collected from mature fruits in the fall and sown directly outdoors or cold-stratified in the refrigerator for 12 weeks before starting indoors.
Growing in Pots
Silky dogwood is not well-suited for container growing due to its extensive root system and preference for cool soil.
Overwintering
Silky dogwood is hardy down to USDA zone 5 and can handle cold winter temperatures. It generally does not require any special overwintering care.
Common Pests and Diseases
Silky dogwood is generally resistant to pests and diseases, but it can occasionally be affected by scale insects, borers, and leaf miners. Neem oil can be used as an organic insecticidal treatment.
Bloom
Silky dogwood produces tiny, creamy-white flowers in May and June. Each flower has four star-shaped petals and a sweet fragrance similar to honeysuckle. The flowers remain in bloom for about 10-14 days.
Common Issues
- Browning Leaf Edges: Overly dry conditions can cause browning of leaf edges or between the veins.
- Leaves Turning Red: Red leaves in summer may indicate powdery mildew, crown canker, drought stress, or excessive sun exposure.
FAQ
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How is silky dogwood helpful for erosion control? Its dense growth habit and ability to form thickets make it an effective natural erosion control method.
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How is silky dogwood used in landscaping? It can be used in cottage-style gardens, rain gardens, and as an accent shrub.
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How fast does silky dogwood grow? It grows at a moderate rate of 12-24 inches annually.
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How big does silky dogwood get? On average, it reaches 10 feet in height and 6-12 feet in width.