|Silky dogwood, Cornus amomum|
Each pollinated flower will turn into a small berry, often a round, blue-colored berry which is quite unlike the red fruits borne by Cornus florida.
|Berries, Cornus amomum|
By chance this week I passed a large group of silky dogwood on a rural roadside. It was loaded with flowers in various stages of bloom: some had faded and seeds were forming, while others were still in tight buds. Obviously growing in ideal conditions (adequate moisture and full sun), it was a beautiful sight and pollinators were all over it. It was a very exciting find for me - I had never seen this species in flower before. I plan to return in the late summer to see the berries.
The only other dogwood that I've successfully grown in my yard (so far!) is alternate leaf dogwood (Cornus alternifolia). The name is significant because other dogwoods have oppositely arranged leaves. Branches on this species are often elegantly arranged in tiers, earning it yet another common name: pagoda dogwood. The glossy foliage is very handsome. This species makes a fine small tree.
|Look at this great foliage!|
I hope to get more familiar with other species over time. Several of them are very wet tolerant - especially swamp dogwood, I have seen it growing in standing water. The birds love the berries of course and the flowers attract many small insects for birds to feed their chicks. You should consider adding one of these other dogwoods to your garden.
|Flowering dogwood, Cornus florida|