Other Names:  Red Rover Silky Dogwood

Description:

A colorful, compact shrub for general garden or massing use; white flowers in spring, and blue berries in fall that attract songbirds; deep purple to red fall color; very adaptable for moist to damp sites

Ornamental Features

Powell Gardens Silky Dogwood features showy clusters of white star-shaped flowers with creamy white overtones at the ends of the branches in late spring. It has forest green deciduous foliage which emerges coppery-bronze in spring. The glossy pointy leaves turn outstanding shades of deep purple, burgundy and red in the fall. It produces steel blue berries from late summer to mid fall.

Landscape Attributes

Powell Gardens Silky Dogwood is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a high maintenance shrub that will require regular care and upkeep, and can be pruned at anytime. It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Suckering

Powell Gardens Silky Dogwood is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Bog Gardens

Planting & Growing

Powell Gardens Silky Dogwood will grow to be about 5 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub performs well in both full sun and full shade. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selection of a native North American species.