• Cornus amomum (Silky Dogwood) native plant in bloom
1 1

Cornus amomum (Silky Dogwood)

Cornus amomum (Silky Dogwood)

Size
Shipping calculated at checkout.

Cornus amomum (Silky Dogwood) is a keystone Midwest native species highly prized by restoration ecologists, landscape architects, and home gardeners. Known for its strong ecological resilience, exceptional wildlife support, and a floristic C-Value of 4, this hardy perennial thrives in full sun across mesic to wet (moist thickets & stream banks) soils. Whether you are creating a dedicated pollinator garden, stabilizing soil on slopes, or restoring remnant prairie and woodland acreage, Natural Communities supplies this species in dependable formats—including deep-cell live plugs, bare-root stock, individual seed packets, and bulk Pure Live Seed (PLS) by weight.

Comprehensive Ecological & Growth Specifications

Botanical Name Cornus amomum
Alternate Common Names Silky Dogwood, Cornus amomum
Plant Family Cornaceae (Dogwood Family)
Regional Native Status Native
Native Range (States) AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV
Midwest & Regional County Distribution IL: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, Kendall, Boone, Winnebago, DeKalb, Ogle, LaSalle, Vermilion; WI: Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington, Dane, Sauk; IN: Lake, Porter, LaPorte, St. Joseph
Primary Native Habitats Wet Prairies, Sedge Meadows, Stream Corridors, Swales
USDA Hardiness Zones Zone 3 - 8
Sunlight Exposure Full Sun
Soil Moisture Range Mesic to Wet (Moist Thickets & Stream Banks)
Soil pH Range 5.0 - 7.0
Height at Maturity 6' - 10'
Spread & Growth Habit Spreading Groundcover (Stoloniferous)
Root Architecture & Depth Dense Fibrous / Rhizomatous Root Network (14+ Depth)
Deer & Wildlife Resistance High to Moderate
Drought Tolerance Low
Salt Tolerance Low to Moderate
Larval Host Status Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) & Cecropia Moth (100+ Lepidoptera)
Specialist Insects & Wildlife Support Andrena fragilis (Specialist Dogwood Mining Bee - Strict Oligolege), Andrena integra (Specialist Dogwood Miner Bee), Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon - Specialist Host), Native Migratory Songbirds (High-Lipid Fall Dogwood Berry Mast)
Ecological Function Stormwater Infiltration & Bioswale Resilience, Wetland Mitigation & Bank Stabilization, Keystone Nectar Hub for Native Bumblebees, Aquatic & Sedge Meadow Buffer Support
Coefficient of Conservatism (C-Value) 4
Germination Code / Stratification C(60)
ACOE Wetland Indicator Status FACW
Recommended Plug Spacing 6 to 12 on-center
Plant Associates Cephalathus Occidentalis, Carex crinita (Fringed Sedge), Asclepias incarnata (Rose Milkweed / Swamp Milkweed), Spiraea alba (Meadowsweet), Viburnum lentago (Nannyberry Viburnum)
Seed Packet Coverage Covers 100 to 250 sq. ft.
Seeds Per Pound 12200.0
Broadcast Seeding Rate (PLS) 10 – 25 lbs/acre PLS (or nursery container propagation)
Toxicity & Pet Safety Non-toxic / Safe for native wildlife & domestic pets

Botanical Profile & Ecological Characteristics

Cornus amomum plays a critical role in establishing healthy, diverse native plant communities throughout the Midwest. Adapted over thousands of years to regional climate patterns, seasonal temperature extremes, and variable moisture conditions, it develops a resilient root architecture (dense fibrous / rhizomatous root network (14"+ depth)) that builds soil organic matter, improves water infiltration, and resists environmental stress.

Cornus amomum (Silky Dogwood) is a medium-sized deciduous shrub found in moist lowland areas swamp borders, floodplains, shrub wetlands and along streams and ponds. Tiny yellowish-white flowers (showy petal-like white bracts are absent) give way to berry-like drupes that change from white to blue as they ripen in late summer; attractive to birds.

  • Sun Exposure Prairie/Savanna
  • Soil Conditions Wet Mesic, Mesic
  • Height 8'-12'
  • Flower Color Yellow
  • Flower Time May, June

    • Faunal Associations & Specialist Wildlife Support

    As a vital resource in native ecosystems, Cornus amomum provides essential sustenance across multiple trophic levels:

    • Larval Host & Pollinator Support: Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) & Cecropia Moth (100+ Lepidoptera).
    • Specialist Floral Visitors: Andrena fragilis (Specialist Dogwood Mining Bee - Strict Oligolege), Andrena integra (Specialist Dogwood Miner Bee), Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon - Specialist Host), Native Migratory Songbirds (High-Lipid Fall Dogwood Berry Mast).
    • Avian & Insect Forage: Flowers provide dense, accessible nectar and pollen during the peak growing season, followed by nutritious seed heads that feed native songbirds and overwintering wildlife.

    Native Plant Associates & Community Ecology

    In authentic Midwestern habitats—such as Wet Prairies, Sedge Meadows, Stream Corridors, Swales—Cornus amomum naturally co-occurs and establishes balanced, biodiverse communities alongside:

    Landscape Applications & Restoration Guidelines

    Cornus amomum is well-suited for home landscaping borders, rain gardens, naturalized meadows, and conservation acreage alike.

    • Plug Spacing: Space live plugs approximately 6' to 12' on-center for optimal crown development and contiguous ground coverage.
    • Broadcast Seeding Rate: 10 – 25 lbs/acre PLS (or nursery container propagation) (when included in diverse prairie seed mixes).
    • Regional Provenance: Sourced and propagated from regionally adapted Midwest ecotypes for maximum ecological fitness and cold hardiness.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

    What are the ideal growing conditions for Silky Dogwood?
    Cornus amomum performs best in full sun with mesic to wet (moist thickets & stream banks) conditions. It thrives in authentic regional soil types ranging from sandy loam to well-drained clay loams.

    How do I germinate and establish Silky Dogwood from seed?
    Seed of Cornus amomum has a germination code of C(60). For best results, sow seed in late fall/winter for natural outdoor freeze-thaw stratification, or cold-moist stratify in refrigeration for 30 to 60 days before spring indoor propagation.

    Is Silky Dogwood deer and herbivore resistant?
    Yes. Native plants adapted to Midwestern habitats naturally produce protective secondary compounds and fibrous textures that make them highly resistant to deer, rabbits, and other grazing herbivores.

    When should I expect Silky Dogwood to emerge and bloom?
    Established plants break dormancy in spring as soil temperatures warm, developing vigorous foliage before blooming in their seasonal window to provide vital nectar when native pollinators need it most.

    Plant Shipping & Care

    We want to ensure that our customers get what they want, a native backyard oasis. To do that, we need to follow a few simple guidelines and give you some information and pointers to make sure you get your plants delivered in a healthy state.

    As a reminder, you will receive an email to confirm your pickup or shipping window just before the plants are ready. See Order Fulfillment below for seasonal fulfillment windows.

     

    Choices to Receive Your Plants & Accessories

    • Website orders: Seed, plugs and bare-root plants offered for shipping are shipped to your address. Shipping charges are calculated at checkout.
    • Container trees and shrubs: Some #3 and #5 container options are offered for scheduled pickup only. Check the selected product option and the cart pickup instructions before ordering. Pickup and shipped items require separate orders where indicated in the cart.
    • Wholesale orders: Delivery and pickup are arranged separately according to the order, supplier yard and location. Wholesale pickup is free.
    • Pickup locations and dates are confirmed by email. Please wait for confirmation before traveling to a pickup site. Our offices are not retail stores or nursery pickup locations.

     

    Order Fulfilment - When Your Plants or Other Items Will Be Ready

    We take orders all year long and seed is shipped all year, but we only provide the plants to you in certain fulfillment windows to ensure healthy plants.

    Wholesale Orders

    • Shipped or are Ready For Pick Up As Requested.

     

    Retail & Website Orders

    • Seed Typically Ships Out Within One Week Of Order All Year Long
    • Typically, single species flats ship when ready, sometimes as soon as early to mid-April (depends on weather) through early-October.
    • Mixed species kits are batched and shipped as indicated on the product page.
    • If a plant order is placed while outside of the plant fulfillment window your plants will be reserved through your payment, however, the order will not be fulfilled and shipped until the following spring. We don't want to provide you plants when they won't be happy during the cold winter months. 
    • Early in the spring and later in the fall certain species may be dormant or partially dormant with brown leaves, however they will return to grow healthy next growing season.
    • Your order may arrive in several different shipments.
    • If certain plants within an order will not be available until a later date, we may choose to hold the full order until all are ready.  In certain circumstances, we may choose to send them in two separate shipments 
    • Fulfillment is always dependent upon plant availability.  We try our best but sometimes plants do not overwinter well and perish.  If a plant is on back order you will receive an email indicating the estimated shipping date.  If we can not provide the plant we will first notify you and give you an option of substitution or a refund of that individual species.
    • Plants are typically only packaged and shipped on Mondays to ensure they do not sit in the harsh delivery facility for extended periods of time over the weekend. You will receive a confirmation email once your delivery has been shipped and to estimate your delivery date.
    • Apparel & accessories are ready typically within one to two weeks. See product page for holiday shipping.

    Where We Ship

     

     

          What to Expect When Receiving Your Delivery

          • Your plants will be packaged with the utmost care
          • We will need to cut back certain plants prior to shipping. This seems counter-intuitive, however, the fewer leaves the less water the plants can lose during shipping, resulting in healthier plants for you. This also enables the plants to fit within the protective packaging and shipped safely.

           

             Shipments

            • Larger plant shipments will look similar to the picture below with a tray of your plants and a cardboard box to protect them during shipping.

             

             

            What to Do With Your Plants After  Receiving Your Delivery

            • Unpack your order IMMEDIATELY
            • Inspect for damage and report any issues immediately to Natives@NaturalCommunities.net
            • Water your plants
            • Install your plants as quickly as possible and water the entire garden area thoroughly
            • If you cannot install your plants immediately
              • Some plants may not be in a container, put them into some kind of a container such as a paper cup with loose soil until installation
              • Make sure each plant is receiving the appropriate amount of light.
              • Continue to water daily each morning and possibly again in the afternoon
              • No additional fertilizer is needed
            How to install native plugs
            View full details

            Solving a Site Problem? Get Expert Advice + Get Store Credit

            Whether you're fighting severe erosion, replacing invasive species, designing a pollinator haven, or seeding large acreage, choosing the wrong species wastes time and money. Talk 1-on-1 with a restoration ecologist to map out the exact species, plug counts, or seed mixes for your soil and goals. Book a consultation and get all or a portion credited directly back to your order.

            Book A Consultation And Get A Store Credit
            Questions & Answers loading...