Fauna
Plant

Silky Dogwood

Cornus amomum

Also known as Red Willow, Silky Cornel, Kinnikinnick

Silky dogwood forms dense, multi-stemmed thickets along eastern North American waterways, stabilizing riverbanks with its fibrous root network. Flat clusters of creamy white spring flowers give way to striking porcelain-blue berries that feed dozens of migrating bird species every autumn. Fine silky hairs coat the undersides of the leaves, while purplish-red winter stems add rich color to quiet wetland landscapes.

Deciduous ShrubWetland IndicatorBerry Producer
Silky Dogwood reference1 / 7
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Soil nutrients, Water
Predators
  • White-tailed deer
  • Cottontail rabbit
  • American beaver
ThreatsHabitat drainage, deer browsing, invasive species competition
HabitatsWetlands, stream banks, floodplains, moist thickets
Life span20–40 years
Classification
  1. OrderCornales
  2. FamilyCornaceae
  3. GenusCornus
  4. SpeciesCornus amomum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Wild berries have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fruit based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Winter Identification: Check twig interiors for brown pith to distinguish from redosier dogwood's white pith.
  • Garden Planting: Plant along pond margins or rain gardens to prevent erosion and support pollinators.
  • Bird Watching: Observe bushes in late summer to spot songbirds feeding on ripening blue berries.
Related species
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