Dogwood seeds

There are several species of Dogwood native to the east coast and Midwest. Perhaps the most well known is flowering dogwood. It is commonly planted in the landscape for its pretty spring flowers which are relatively large and white. In fall they produce abundant red berries that birds love to eat. Flowering dogwood really wants part shade. It will grow in full shade although its form will be tall and lanky. Ideal would be morning sun and afternoon shade. If exposed to too much sunlight the dogwood will be stressed in summer but will continue to grow and survive in most cases. It is not uncommon to find them planted in full sun in urban sites. 

Another wonderful dogwood is Silky dogwood. Silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) is a deciduous shrub native to eastern and central North America, commonly found in wet habitats such as streambanks, swamps, low thickets, and moist forest edges. It typically grows 6 to 12 feet tall, sometimes reaching up to 15 feet, with a multi-stemmed, spreading habit that allows it to form dense thickets. The stems are reddish-brown to purplish, especially on younger growth, and the leaves are opposite, oval, and softly hairy beneath—giving the plant its “silky” name. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and tolerates periodic flooding, making it valuable for erosion control and riparian restoration. In late spring to early summer, it produces clusters of small white flowers that develop into bluish drupes by late summer, each berry about ¼ inch in diameter. While the fruit is generally considered too astringent and pulpy for human consumption, it is highly nutritious and favored by birds, particularly migrating songbirds, as well as mammals like raccoons and foxes.

Our seed is packed in slightly moist sand and has never been allowed to dry out. These seeds were collected from healthy specimen trees at our nursery site in Bassett VA. Dogwood seeds require cold stratification. We prefer to fall plant them but you could also store them in the fridge for several months and plant in early spring. 

each pack contains a minimum of 25 seeds