General Culture:
Grow in average, medium to wet, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, organically rich, slightly acidic soils in part shade. Benefits from a 2-4” mulch which will help keep roots cool and moist in summer.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Silky dogwood (also commonly known as swamp dogwood, pale dogwood and kinnkinnik) is a medium-sized deciduous shrub that is typically found in moist lowland areas and along streams in Eastern North America. In Missouri, it is found throughout most of the State (Steyermark). Twigs and leaf undersides have silky hairs, hence the common name. This dogwood typically grows to 6-12’ tall with an open-rounded form. Tiny yellowish-white flowers (showy petal-like white bracts are absent) in flat-topped clusters (cymes to 2.5” across) bloom in June. Flowers give way to attractive porcelain blue berries that ripen in August. Oval to elliptic, medium green leaves (2-4” long) generally lack fall color. Twigs are reddish to purplish brown in spring. The Royal Horticultural Society currently considers C. amomum subsp. obliqua to be synonymous with and the preferred designation for plants formerly known as C. obliqua.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Plants are susceptible to scale. Additional insect pests include borers and leaf miner. Infrequent disease problems include leaf spot, crown canker, blights, root rot and powdery mildew.
Uses:
Best for woodland areas. Not overly ornamental.
© Missouri Botanical
Garden, 2001-2010
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