Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum subsp. obliqua)
Another wildlife rockstar! The nectar and pollen of the Silky Dogwood flowers attract a wide variety of insects, especially native bees. It is the host plant to the beautiful Spring Azure and 119 other caterpillars in our area (nwf.org) and it is the host to three specialist bees Andrena fragilis A. persimulata, and A. platyparia (Holm, 2017). The berries of Dogwood are an important food source for many birds (Bird Table) and are also eaten by many mammals (illinoiswildflower.info). Both the Cottontail Rabbit and White-Tailed Deer browse on the branches and leaves, so you may need to protect it for a while until it can handle some browsing.
Photo credit: Wendy Cutler (1) John Blair (2-3)
Another wildlife rockstar! The nectar and pollen of the Silky Dogwood flowers attract a wide variety of insects, especially native bees. It is the host plant to the beautiful Spring Azure and 119 other caterpillars in our area (nwf.org) and it is the host to three specialist bees Andrena fragilis A. persimulata, and A. platyparia (Holm, 2017). The berries of Dogwood are an important food source for many birds (Bird Table) and are also eaten by many mammals (illinoiswildflower.info). Both the Cottontail Rabbit and White-Tailed Deer browse on the branches and leaves, so you may need to protect it for a while until it can handle some browsing.
Photo credit: Wendy Cutler (1) John Blair (2-3)
Another wildlife rockstar! The nectar and pollen of the Silky Dogwood flowers attract a wide variety of insects, especially native bees. It is the host plant to the beautiful Spring Azure and 119 other caterpillars in our area (nwf.org) and it is the host to three specialist bees Andrena fragilis A. persimulata, and A. platyparia (Holm, 2017). The berries of Dogwood are an important food source for many birds (Bird Table) and are also eaten by many mammals (illinoiswildflower.info). Both the Cottontail Rabbit and White-Tailed Deer browse on the branches and leaves, so you may need to protect it for a while until it can handle some browsing.
Photo credit: Wendy Cutler (1) John Blair (2-3)
Life Cycle: Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
Soil Moisture: Wet, Medium
Height: Up to 10 feet
Plant Spacing: 3-5 feet
Bloom Time: May-June
Bloom Color: White
Advantages: Caterpillar Favorite, Bird Favorite, Deer Resistant
Host Plant: Polymorphus, Cecropia, possibly the Spring Azure, and 119 other species of butterflies and moths use this as a caterpillar host plant in our area (nwf.org)
Specialist Bee: Short-tongued bee Andrena fragilis, A. persimulata, and A. platyparia (Holm, 2017)
Resource: Holm, Heather. Bees: An Identification and Native Plant Forage Guide. Pollination Press, 2017
