Silky Dogwood?

[Hob 'n Grind]

Hi guys. I have a bunch of this dogwood growing in my creek bottom and I'm not sure what type it is. The research I have done points me toward either silky or gray dogwood. Redosier dogwood was ruled out because of the gray trunks. Could anyone with a good eye for dogwood help me out please? I'm located in SC Pennsylvania. Thank you

 

[j-bird]

I can only tell the difference between grey and silky 2 ways... the easiest is by the "drupes" - Grey dogwood drupes are white and silky are more of a blueish color (but you have to wait until summer to use that method). Secondly is by the pith....the pith is the inner portion of the stem. Grey dogwood has a brown pith and silky has a more pink colored pith. If you take a twig and take a sharp knife and try to make a long slice (like your peeling a carrot) you can expose the pith and get some idea of what your dealing with. Someone with more experience with them may be able to tell from the bark....I just know the bark can change with age.

I just flag it and wait until summer...much easier to tell....as long as you beat the birds to the drupes!

 

[Native Hunter]

As already stated, it will be easy to tell when flowering and fruiting.

Right now, I can offer the following as a way you might be able to tell the difference. Make a slanting cut on the young branches:

Red Osier has white pith
Grey has light brown pith
Silky has salmon colored pith

Also, on silky you should be seeing quite a few hairs at the ends of the twigs even right now. With grey, you should be seeing some occasional knots - like little warts or bumps.

Honestly, it doesn't really matter that much, because the wildlife value of those dogwoods are pretty much the same. Just be glad it isn't autumn olive.

 

[Hob 'n Grind]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll be doing some edge feathering tomorrow so I'll stop by one and take a picture of the pith and confirm.

 

[Hob 'n Grind]

Well today while out working on the property I was able to cut into one of the dogwoods to see the pith. It sure looks brown to me which would mean gray dogwood? I also did not notice any silky texture on any of the twigs.

 

[Native Hunter]

That looks like Grey to me - however, salmon and brown might not show a great difference on a computer screen. But you can be certain it isn't ROD.

I'm also seeing the little raised bumps (actually called lenticels) which is typical of Grey.