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Silky Dogwood
Cornus amomum

An erect, deciduous shrub that forms a dense cluster of stems usually 6-12' high and wide. Used often for wildlife cover and in restorations. It is well suited for stream bank stabilization and for shrubby thickets adjacent to wooded swamps. Other restorations that it would be suitable for are calcareous fens, lake shotes, marches and wet dunes. This species can be considered for rain gardens with low-salt concentrations. Stressed by drought conditions.

USDA symbol: COOB9

General Information

Plant TypeShrub
Height6 to 12 feet
Light ExposureSun, Part Sun
Soil MoistureMedium, Wet
Bloom ColorWhite
Silky Dogwood (Silky Dogwood<div><em class="small">Cornus amomum</em></div>)
Photo credit: Minnesota Wildflowers (Click to enlarge)

Tolerances

Flooding / Inundation ToleranceVery High
General Resilience8
Salt ToleranceLow
Stress ToleranceGeneral Disturbance

Pollinator Value: High

Bloom MonthsJune to July
Larval Host ofBees
Specific Pollinators HostedNumerous bee species
Pollinator BenefitInsect Pollinated, Provides Nectar, Supports Generalists

Project Planning

Project TypeErosion Control, Rain Garden, Restoration
Coefficient of Conservatism6
Herbivore SensitivityMedium
LifespanPerennial
Rate of SpreadSlow
Soil StabilizationDeep
Vegetative ReproductionClonal

Range

CountyAitkin, Anoka, Blue Earth, Carver, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Jackson, Kanabec, Le Sueur, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Nicollet, Olmsted, Pine, Ramsey, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Stearns, Steele, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Washington, Winona, Wright
EcoregionDriftless Area, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Glaciated Plains, Northern Lakes and Forests, Western Cornbelt Plains
Approximate Eco ProvinceEastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland