# Silky Dogwood (*cornus amomum*) The Silky Dogwood is a beautiful plant with soft, silky leaves that look like they are glowing in the sun. Its branches are perfect for birds to perch on and enjoy the view! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 12 - **Habitat:** Wetlands, swamps, and along riverbanks. - **Also known as:** Blueberry Dogwood, Cornus Amomum, Silky Cornel ![Silky Dogwood](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cornus_amomum_form_01.JPG&width=800) Photo: User:SB_Johnny, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cornus_amomum_form_01.JPG) ## Appearance The Silky Dogwood has distinctive reddish-purple stems, especially vibrant in winter, and produces clusters of small, creamy-white flowers in late spring. Its lance-shaped leaves are dark green, often turning dull reddish-purple in autumn, complementing its striking blue berries. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Cornales - **Family:** Cornaceae - **Genus:** Cornus ## Interesting facts - If you gently break a Silky Dogwood leaf, you might see tiny, silky threads connecting the halves! - Native Americans historically used parts of this plant for medicinal purposes, like treating fevers. - Silky Dogwood berries are a favorite snack for at least 90 different bird species! - The name "dogwood" might come from "dag," meaning skewer, for its hard wood! ## Special abilities - **Root Power:** Silky Dogwood can stabilize stream banks with its extensive root system, helping prevent erosion and protect delicate habitats. - **Wildlife Buffet:** This plant grows vibrant blue berries in late summer, providing a crucial food source for many bird species and small mammals. - **Wetland Warrior:** Silky Dogwood has a special tolerance for wet soils, allowing it to thrive in boggy areas where other plants struggle. - **Winter Glow:** Its bright, reddish-purple stems stand out in winter, adding a splash of color to drab landscapes and helping it get noticed. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 150-450 cm - **Spread:** 150-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Eats the blue berries - **Eaten by:** [Cedar Waxwing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cedar-waxwing) (*Bombycilla cedrorum*) — Feasts on abundant fruit clusters - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses its young stems and leaves - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar from its small flowers - **Pollinates:** [Common Drone Fly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-drone-fly) (*Syrphus ribesii*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Silky Dogwood? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Silky Dogwood? 150-450 cm ### How wide does Silky Dogwood spread? 150-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on Silky Dogwood? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Silky Dogwood bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is Silky Dogwood edible? No ### Is Silky Dogwood toxic? Mild ### What is Silky Dogwood's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Concord](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/concord) — Tennessee, US · Neighborhood - [Long Ridge Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/long-ridge-village-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Riverton Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/riverton-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Rogerson's Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rogersons-village-historic-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District - [Southwick's Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/southwicks-zoo) — Massachusetts, US · Zoo - [Bradford Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bradford-downtown-historic-district) — Pennsylvania, US · Historic District [View all places to see Silky Dogwood](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/silky-dogwood) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Silky Dogwood: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/silky-dogwood)