Silky Dogwood

Appearance

"Cornus amomum" is a shrub in the dogwood family, which grows in eastern North America. The plant is a shrub growing from roughly 6 ft to 12 ft in height and 6 ft to 12 ft in width. "Cornus amomum" usually blooms between May and June, producing 4 showy yellowish white flowers."Cornus amomum" leaves are rusty brown and pubescent, occurring opposite from one another and usually having between 4 and 5 veins per leaf side. If "Cornus amomum" is left unattended it will grow to create thickets and thick vegetative areas.

Naming

"Cornus" in Latin means horn, this is describing the dogwoods hard wood. "Amomum" in Latin means eastern spice.

Distribution

"Cornus amomum" is a native eastern North American shrub, finding suitable habitat in wetland areas like swamps, marshes and bogs. The distribution of the shrub also extends west past the Mississippi river to the eastern borders of Kansas, Nebraska, and parts of northern Oklahoma. "Cornus amomum" is only found within the U.S. while other species such as the "Cornus oblique" can be found in Canada."Cornus amomum" prefers partial shade but can tolerate full sun. When planted, the use of organic materials to maintain a wet environment will help the shrub when insufficient water is present. "Cornus amomum" is grows near or around creeks or water systems. "Cornus amomum" can be found in the following states: West Virginia, Virginia, Vermont, South Carolina, Maine, Kentucky, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, District of Columbia, Delaware, Connecticut, Alabama, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. "Cornus amomum" has been found at elevations from 0 feet to 1500 feet of elevation.

Status

Based on the IUCN Red List classification, The conservation status of "Cornus amomum" is a Least Concern plant. While "Cornus amomum" is recognized as Least Concern across the eastern parts of North America, Indiana has "Cornus amomum" ranked as an endangered plant throughout the state.

Habitat

"Cornus amomum" is a native eastern North American shrub, finding suitable habitat in wetland areas like swamps, marshes and bogs. The distribution of the shrub also extends west past the Mississippi river to the eastern borders of Kansas, Nebraska, and parts of northern Oklahoma. "Cornus amomum" is only found within the U.S. while other species such as the "Cornus oblique" can be found in Canada."Cornus amomum" prefers partial shade but can tolerate full sun. When planted, the use of organic materials to maintain a wet environment will help the shrub when insufficient water is present. "Cornus amomum" is grows near or around creeks or water systems. "Cornus amomum" can be found in the following states: West Virginia, Virginia, Vermont, South Carolina, Maine, Kentucky, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, District of Columbia, Delaware, Connecticut, Alabama, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. "Cornus amomum" has been found at elevations from 0 feet to 1500 feet of elevation.

Uses

The dogwood family is desired for ornamental uses in landscapes across the United States. Dogwoods are valued by gardeners for their spring flowers, summer foliage, fruit and leaf color. Each species of dogwood has their own unique look, "Cornus amomum" is a shrub which can be used in places of excess runoff or areas of water collection in a landscape as it thrives in moist to wet soil conditions. The shrub provides beautiful colors throughout the spring, summer and fall. "Cornus amomum" has also been used in the outdoors to help with erosion control along slopes and steep inclines, it can be planted by farmers and landowners to provide a windbreaks for homes and agriculture fields, its uses can include building natural borders between land and for wildlife conservation, and it can be used to provide habitat for many types of wildlife. Finally, "Cornus amomum" can minimize stream bank erosion and add stabilization along bank when coupled together with other well rooted trees and shrubs like willows. Some problems can arise from the use of "Cornus amomum" as a natural border, mostly as a border for wildlife and livestock. While the shrubs create a useful barrier, grazing wildlife and livestock tend to damage much of the shrub when the fruit are ripe. Other than that, there are no impending diseases or pest which would pose any sort of problem for the shrub.