Silky dogwood

Profile

Family

Cornaceae

Habit

Shrub

Height

2.5 m

Spread

4 m

Growth

very fast

Lifespan

20 years

First yield

after 3 years

Hardiness

zone 3–7

Shade tolerance

partial shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay

Soil moisture

semi-dry – near water

pH

5 – 8

Synonyms

Weißer Hartriegel und Sprossender Hartriegel, Cornus alba, Cornus stolonifera,

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Frucht – roh oder gekocht . Saftig . Einigen Berichten zufolge ist sie bitter und ungenießbar . Die nordamerikanischen Ureinwohner vermischten sie mit anderen Früchten wie Felsenbirnen (Amelanchier spp.) und trockneten sie für den Winter . Die Frucht kann Übelkeit hervorrufen . Der Durchmesser der Frucht beträgt bis zu 9 mm . Samen . Es werden keine weiteren Details angegeben, aber die Samen sind recht klein und holzig und sehen nicht gerade essbar aus . Aus den Samen wird Speiseöl gewonnen .

Medicinal: Red osier dogwood was commonly used by several Native American tribes in North America who valued it for its astringent and tonic bark, using it internally and externally to treat diarrhea, fever, skin issues, etc. It is rarely used in modern herbal medicine. The bark and root bark have analgesic, astringent, antipyretic, laxative, mildly stimulating, and tonic properties. Drying the bark removes its laxative effect. A decoction was used to treat headaches, diarrhea, coughs, colds, and fevers. Externally, the decoction was used as a wash for inflamed eyes, styes, and other infections, as well as to treat skin conditions like poison ivy rash and ulcers. Bark shavings were applied as a dressing on wounds to stop bleeding. A poultice made from the soaked inner bark, mixed with ash, was used to relieve pain. The plant is said to have cured rabies.

Other uses: Fibers extracted from the bark are utilized for making ropes. The bark can be woven into ropes. Ground bark is used as tooth powder for gum care and teeth whitening. Oil extracted from the seeds is a good burning fuel and lighting source. A red dye can be obtained from the bark when mixed with cedar wood ash. The flexible branches are used as borders in basket weaving. The trunk wood is very tough and flexible. These plants can be grown as tall ground cover for large areas, with the "Flaviramea" variety being recommended. The red willow is considered a beneficial plant for carbon farming, being able to be cut down for livestock feed and used as a living fence. It is an industrial biomass plant.

Growing

The plant is easy to cultivate and thrives in all soils with good to moderate fertility, from acidic to shallow calcareous. It grows well in heavy clay soils, preferring moist soil and a sunny or semi-shady location. It also thrives in poorly drained soils. The plants are hardy to about -35°C. A sprawling shrub with runners. Numerous varieties have been developed due to their decorative value. This species is closely related to C. alba. The flowers are highly attractive to bees. Plants of this genus are particularly resistant to honey fungus. The plant is heat-resistant in zones 8 to 1. For the design of polycultures and above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub, etc., and size as shown above), information on growth and root patterns is also useful and is provided here if available. The plant has a multi-stem growth with several stems from the crown.

Propagation

Sowing seeds - best done right after they mature in a cold frame or, if there is enough seed available, outdoors in a seedbed [80, 113]. The seeds need to be separated from the pulp as it contains germination inhibitors [80, 164]. Stored seeds should undergo 3 - 4 months of cold stratification and be sown as early as possible in the year [164]. Scarification can also be beneficial, as well as a period of warm stratification before the cold treatment [80, 164]. Germination, especially of stored seeds, can be very slow and take 18 months or longer [164]. Prick out the seedlings of seeds sown in the cold frame into individual pots once they are large enough to handle, and grow the plants on in a greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in spring after the last expected frosts. Semi-ripe lateral shoots can be taken as cuttings in July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature current year's wood, preferably with a heel, in autumn in a cold frame. High success rate [78]. Layering of new growth in June/July. Duration: 9 months [78].

Origin & habitat

North America - From Newfoundland to New York, extending west to Alaska and California. Naturalized in 17.

Open wooded areas and shrubs on arid slopes, typically near the coastline.

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