Cornus amomum aka Silky Cornel

Cornus amomum, or silky dogwood, belongs to the dogwood family. This shrub sheds its leaves each fall. It grows wild in eastern and central North America. Its range includes parts of Canada and the eastern United States. It grows near streams, ponds, swamps, and wet woods. Garden plants reach 6–12 feet [1.8–3.7 metres] tall and wide. Some sources give heights near 10 feet [3 metres]. RHS gives an upper size near 13 feet [4 metres]. Many stems form a loose, rounded crown.

Fine hairs cover the young twigs and leaf undersides. Young stems show red-purple tones, which remain visible in winter. Older stems develop brown pores, and their pith turns brown. The thin gray bark has a smooth surface. Leaves grow in pairs on each stem. Each simple leaf has an oval shape and smooth edges. The upper side is green, with a paler underside. Fall color varies from brown to red or purple. Some plants show little change before their leaves drop.

Small cream to yellow-white flowers open in May and June. They form broad, flat clusters called cymes. Each flower has four petals and four long stamens. These blooms lack the large white bracts of some dogwoods. The small drupes start white and turn blue as they ripen. Fruit clusters hang from the stems in August and September. Birds and many mammals eat the fruit. Butterflies visit the flowers for nectar. Azure butterfly larvae also use this shrub as a host.

Grow it in sun or part shade with moist soil. It also tolerates sites with almost full shade. Rich, slightly acid soil suits it best. It accepts clay, loam, sand, and chalk, with varied pH. Mulch helps keep its roots cool and moist through summer. Sources place it in USDA zones 4 or 5 through 8. RHS rates its UK hardiness H7. Use it for wet borders, rain gardens, hedges, and stream banks. Its spreading growth can help hold soil on slopes.

Suckers and rooted low branches can form dense thickets. Remove unwanted suckers to limit spread where needed. Its loose growth can look untidy in formal settings. Serious pest and disease trouble is uncommon, but scale can occur. Borers and leaf miners may also attack it. Possible diseases include anthracnose, honey fungus, mildew, and root rot. PFAF lists the fruit as edible raw or cooked. It reports no known hazards, rather than confirmed safety. It also records past medicinal and toothpowder uses for bark.