Silky Dogwood

== AKA ==
Swamp Dogwood
== Desc ==
Large bushy dogwood tree. This dogwood is often found in swampy areas. Silky Dogwood has pretty big showy white clustered flowers in early summer (June and sometimes early July). Some trees may also bloom again in September. Flowers are fragrant. Individual flowers are very tiny. It takes probably up to 50 flowers to make up the compound flower we see. Silky dogwood often has about half its canopy of flowers, so still not like the flowering dogwood. Flowers eventually in September become small blue berries, still in clusters. Berries are technically edible, but don't taste very good. They have pits, along with a non all that sweet taste. The berries fall off in fall when leaves do. The entire flower/fruit stalk falls off. Leaves turn red or purple before dropping in October. They have red bark, and grey older bark, still having red streaks. Bark is smooth. 
This bush has a big rounded crown, and branches tend to arch back to the ground in open grown trees. Branches that dig back into the ground can grow roots, and become a new tree. Forest grown trees are less likely to grow like this, and grow more like a regular dogwood. 
== Propagation ==
Propagation of this species is the easiest of any of the dogwoods. Almost all transplants work well. I just transplanted three baby trees of this species from my neighbor's sidewalk to a planter to grow inside this year. I also had planted a cutting from a big bush from my neighbors. Both cuttings survived. Make sure to use rooting hormone, it helps cuttings grow roots to continue to grow. 
== General ==
8-14' Sometimes bigger.
Grows in Swamps
Can grow in full sun to full shade. 
Compound flowers. Big cluster, fragrant. 
Blue berries, still in cluster, maturing in September. 
Red twigs. 
Trees are native, but can still sometimes grow in weedy, but are not invasive. 
Popular ornamental. 
Looks great in parks and yards. 
Trim often if you want a single tree. 
Almost always is a multi-trunked tree. 
Category:Trees and Shrubs
Category:Nature