Cornus amomumIndiana Native
Silky Dogwood

Family:

Cornaceae (Dogwood Family) 40

Genus:

Cornus (Dogwood) 40

Plant Type:

Shrub 468

Growth Forms:

Upright 574

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 3 233

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 839

Flower Notes:

Cream (Yellowish-white flat-topped cymes (1.5-2.5" dia.) in spring)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Summer foliage); Red-Violet (Dull reddish-purple fall foliage)

Stem Notes:

Red-Violet (Young branches reddish purple, largest stems are grey; slender, appressed pubescence, second year wood having fissuring pattern)

Fruit Notes:

Multi-Colored (Blue berries with white blotches (beautiful before birds eat them), persisting for a brief time in August)

Ultimate Height:

6-10 feet

Ultimate Spread:

6-10 feet

Bloom Times:

Fruiting Times:

Light Requirements:

Soil Water Requirements:

Medium to wet 60

Soil Notes:

Grows well in a variety of situations, but prefers wet soil

Range:

Eastern North America

Maintenance:

Medium 83

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves (2-4" long and half as wide) opposite, simple, elliptic-ovate or elliptic, usually rounded at base, dark green above and somewhat glaucous beneath, except for grayish-white or brownish hairs beneath. Leaves have 4-7 viens that sweep toward, but never contact, the leaf margin. Stems are purplish (no lenticels).

Ecological Functions:

Purdue Plant Doctor

Parts and Problems of Dogwood

Special Characteristics:

Wet Soil Tolerant 109

Additional Information

Easy to transplant. Relatively trouble-free. A three-year pruning cycle improves form, vigor, and winter stem color effect. Cutting all stems 6-12" from ground in late winter has similar effect. Best in mass plantings. Excellent for winter color. Scale and leaf spot can be a problem. Can appear a bit coarse in the landscape.

Plant Photo Gallery

Overall Habit

Leaf

Flower

Leaf Bud

Bark and Leaf Buds

Habit - Winter

Bark and Branching

When Cornus amomum has been observed flowering or fruiting at Purdue University

Flowering

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Week 1 flowering not present	Week 2 flowering not present	Week 3 flowering not present	Week 4 flowering not present	Week 5 flowering not present	Week 6 flowering not present	Week 7 flowering not present	Week 8 flowering not present	Week 9 flowering not present	Week 10 flowering not present	Week 11 flowering not present	Week 12 flowering not present	Week 13 flowering not present	Week 14 flowering not present	Week 15 flowering not present	Week 16 flowering not present	Week 17 flowering not present	Week 18 flowering not present	Week 19 flowering not present	Week 20 flowering not present	Week 21 flowering not present	Week 22 flowering present	Week 23 flowering present	Week 24 flowering present	Week 25 flowering present	Week 26 flowering present	Week 27 flowering not present	Week 28 flowering not present	Week 29 flowering not present	Week 30 flowering not present	Week 31 flowering not present	Week 32 flowering not present	Week 33 flowering not present	Week 34 flowering not present	Week 35 flowering not present	Week 36 flowering not present	Week 37 flowering not present	Week 38 flowering not present	Week 39 flowering not present	Week 40 flowering not present	Week 41 flowering not present	Week 42 flowering not present	Week 43 flowering not present	Week 44 flowering not present	Week 45 flowering not present	Week 46 flowering not present	Week 47 flowering not present	Week 48 flowering not present	Week 49 flowering not present	Week 50 flowering not present	Week 51 flowering not present	Week 52 flowering not present

Fruiting

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Week 1 fruiting not present	Week 2 fruiting not present	Week 3 fruiting not present	Week 4 fruiting not present	Week 5 fruiting not present	Week 6 fruiting not present	Week 7 fruiting not present	Week 8 fruiting not present	Week 9 fruiting not present	Week 10 fruiting not present	Week 11 fruiting not present	Week 12 fruiting not present	Week 13 fruiting not present	Week 14 fruiting not present	Week 15 fruiting not present	Week 16 fruiting not present	Week 17 fruiting not present	Week 18 fruiting not present	Week 19 fruiting not present	Week 20 fruiting not present	Week 21 fruiting not present	Week 22 fruiting not present	Week 23 fruiting not present	Week 24 fruiting not present	Week 25 fruiting not present	Week 26 fruiting not present	Week 27 fruiting not present	Week 28 fruiting not present	Week 29 fruiting not present	Week 30 fruiting not present	Week 31 fruiting not present	Week 32 fruiting present	Week 33 fruiting present	Week 34 fruiting present	Week 35 fruiting present	Week 36 fruiting present	Week 37 fruiting present	Week 38 fruiting present	Week 39 fruiting present	Week 40 fruiting present	Week 41 fruiting present	Week 42 fruiting present	Week 43 fruiting not present	Week 44 fruiting not present	Week 45 fruiting not present	Week 46 fruiting not present	Week 47 fruiting not present	Week 48 fruiting not present	Week 49 fruiting not present	Week 50 fruiting not present	Week 51 fruiting not present	Week 52 fruiting not present

16 Cornus amomum found

Building Map...

= Heritage plant = Memorial plant

Number	Accession ID	Location
1	2010_01143*A	FORD
2	2010_01118*A	FORD
3	2010_01141*A	FORD
4	2010_01142*A	FORD
5	2018_01172*A	HORTPARK
6	2009_13633*A	HORTPARK
7	2018_01167*A	HORTPARK
8	2018_01165*A	HORTPARK
9	2018_01157*A	HORTPARK
10	2018_01175*A	HORTPARK
11	2018_01179*A	HORTPARK
12	2022_15770*A	HORTPARK
13	2020_01186*A	HORTPARK
14	2020_01186*B	HORTPARK
15	2020_01186*C	HORTPARK
16	2023_00573*A	HORTPARK

Other plants like this Cornus amomum (Silky Dogwood)

The Purdue Arboretum is a collaboration between the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Physical Facilities Grounds Department

Purdue Arboretum, 625 Agriculture Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN, 47907

Contact Purdue Arboretum at arboretum@purdue.edu for accessibility issues with this page | Accessibility Resources | Contact Us