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Cornus obliqua Raf.
Silky dogwood, Pale dogwood, Swamp dogwood, Kinnikinnik
Synonym(s): Cornus amomum ssp. obliqua, Cornus amomum var. schuetzeana, Cornus purpusii
USDA Symbol: COOB9
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
This late-blooming dogwood is a wide, open, spreading shrub that grows 8-10 ft. tall. Clusters of small, creamy-white flowers are followed by clusters of blue berries. Twigs are grayish-green, becoming purplish-red.
The genus cornus is Latin for a horn.
Plant CharacteristicsDuration: Perennial Habit: Shrub Flower:
Black Size Class:
Bloom InformationBloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Jun
, WV Canada: ON Native Distribution:
N.B. to VA,
w. to MN,
& LA Native Habitat:
Swamps; damp thickets; wet prairies
Growing ConditionsLight Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
Soil Description: Moist soils.
Conditions Comments: Not a specimen dogwood, but useful in poorly drained sites and for prevention of lake and stream bank erosion. Tolerates more alkaline soil.
Propagate by seed or cuttings. Silky dogwood is one of the easiest dogwoods to root. Semi-hardwood cuttings benefit from hormone treatment; softwood cutting do not require treatment. Seed Collection:
when it has turned black. Seed Treatment:
Remove seed from fruit
and stratify 90 days. Commercially Avail:
National Wetland Indicator Status
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1
(Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here
for map of regions.
Record Last Modified: 2010-09-09
Research By: TWC Staff