Cornus amomum
Overview
Uses: Rain gardens, streambank and pond-edge stabilization, erosion control, wildlife and pollinator gardens, native plantings, naturalized wet areas, informal screening in moist sites.
Benefits: A tough native shrub built for wet, difficult sites. Creamy-white late-spring flowers feed pollinators and ripen into porcelain-blue berries that songbirds love, while reddish-purple fall foliage and purplish winter stems extend the interest. Its suckering, thicket-forming habit stabilizes banks and naturalizes damp ground with ease.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–8
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Rounded, Spreading — multi-stemmed, suckering form.
Bloom Color: White
Foliage Color: Green, with reddish-purple fall color
Mature Height: 6–10 feet
Mature Width: 6–10 feet
Bloom Season: Late spring to early summer
Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast
Summary
Silky dogwood is a hardworking native shrub that earns its keep in the wet, difficult spots where many plants struggle.
Flat clusters of creamy-white flowers open in late spring above glossy green leaves, drawing pollinators, and give way by late summer to porcelain-blue berries that songbirds strip quickly. As the season turns, the foliage takes on reddish-purple tones, and the young stems deepen to a purplish-red that adds quiet interest to the winter landscape.
Multi-stemmed and gently suckering, it forms a rounded thicket whose roots bind soil along streambanks, pond edges, and rain gardens. Adaptable, cold-hardy, and tolerant of wet ground, it is a natural choice for naturalizing and erosion control.
Care
Silky Dogwood Care
Silky dogwood grows in full sun to partial shade and is happiest in consistently moist to wet soil; it tolerates clay, periodic flooding, and poorly drained ground that defeats most shrubs.
Water regularly to establish, especially in the wet sites it prefers; once settled it is low-maintenance. Feeding is seldom needed, but a slow release fertilizer in early spring can support vigorous growth.
To keep the thicket tidy, remove the oldest stems at the base in late winter to encourage fresh, colorful young growth, and remove outer suckers if you want to limit its spread.
Size
What Size is the Silky Dogwood for Sale Online?
Our Silky Dogwood ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Silky Dogwood Grow?
Silky dogwood matures into a rounded, multi-stemmed shrub roughly 6 to 10 feet tall and about as wide, spreading further over time as it suckers into a thicket. Give it room, or manage the suckers to keep it more contained.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
This shrub is commonly called silky dogwood, a reference to the fine hairs on its young stems and leaf undersides.
Is silky dogwood good for wet areas?
Yes. It naturally grows along streams and in damp ground, making it one of the better shrubs for rain gardens, pond edges, and low, wet spots where drainage is poor.
Is silky dogwood native, and good for wildlife?
Yes. It is native to eastern North America; its spring flowers support pollinators and its blue late-summer berries are a favorite of songbirds. Browse more in our collection of native plants.
Will it spread, and how do I manage it?
It spreads gradually by suckers to form a thicket, which is ideal for erosion control and naturalizing. In a managed bed, remove outer suckers and cut the oldest stems to the ground in late winter to keep it in bounds — see more options among our shrubs and bushes.
