Swida foemina (Mill.) Rydb.

Scientific Name: Swida foemina (Mill.) Rydb.


Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Magnoliopsida / Rosidae / Cornales / Cornaceae / Cornus L./ Swida foemina (Mill.) Rydb.

<i>Swida foemina</i> (Mill.) Rydb.
General Information
Usda SymbolSWFO
GroupDicot
Life CyclePerennial
Growth HabitsShrubTree,
Native LocationsSWFO

Plant Guide

Use a soil moisture meter to monitor the soil moisture where Swida foemina (Mill.) Rydb. is planted.

Fact Sheet

Uses

Wildlife: Fruits are eaten by several species of birds including quail, catbirds, mockingbirds, robins, and brown thrashers. Recreation and Beautification: Excellent landscape tree for its very attractive form and profuse white flowers. Frequently used for massing or naturalizing, screen and border.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Description

Cornus foemina P. Mill., swamp dogwood, is primarily found along the coastal plain from eastern Virginia to central Florida, west to Louisiana and north to southeastern Missouri. It is a deciduous small tree to large shrub, growing to 15 ft in height, with multiple trunks, 4 inches in diameter. Its bark is thick and smooth, frequently furrowed with shallow ridges exposing gray inner bark. The plant’s leaves are opposite and oval-shaped, with smooth margins. Flowers are creamy white, loose, and small; they occur in flat topped clusters without showy bracts. Fruits are small, open clusters of bluish to purple drupes (fleshy, one-seeded fruits). Robert H. Mohlenbrock USDA, NRCS 1995 Midwestern Wetland Flora @ USDA NRCS PLANTS

Adaptation and Distribution

Distribution

Distribution

Swamp dogwood generally grows in swampy, low wetland habitats, barrier islands, and along streams, riverbanks, marshes and creeks. It is found growing along ditches on the second road back from the ocean at Emerald Isle and found to exhibit moderate salt tolerance. Swamp dogwood is distributed throughout most of the southeast United States. For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Website.

Establishment

Like most dogwoods, this species can be grown easily from seeds collected from mature, native trees and from softwood cuttings. Seeds at maturity must be either planted immediately or prechilled. Seeds sown in nursery beds should be covered with ¼ to ½ inch of soil and mulched during the winter.

Management

Plant in moist soils in full sun to partial shade as it is tolerant to wet and/or low fertility soils, It requires little maintenance in naturalized settings, When used for massing, pruning to within a few inches of the ground every few years promotes fullness, , Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Swida foemina (Mill.) Rydb..

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Temperature, Minimum (°F)-3
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Anaerobic ToleranceMedium
CaCO3 ToleranceLow
Cold Stratification RequiredYes
Drought ToleranceLow
Fertility RequirementMedium
Fire ToleranceMedium
Frost Free Days, Minimum240
Hedge ToleranceLow
Moisture UseMedium
pH, Maximum7.2
pH, Minimum5.8
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim1700
Planting Density per Acre, Minim1200
Precipitation, Maximum60
Precipitation, Minimum36
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)16
Salinity ToleranceNone
Shade ToleranceIntermediate


Morphology/Physiology

BloatNone
ToxicityNone
Resprout AbilityYes
Shape and OrientationErect
Active Growth PeriodSpring and Summer
C:N RatioMedium
Coppice PotentialNo
Fall ConspicuousYes
Fire ResistantNo
Flower ColorWhite
Flower ConspicuousYes
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage Porosity SummerModerate
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
Foliage TextureFine
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousYes
Nitrogen FixationNone
Low Growing GrassNo
LifespanModerate
Leaf RetentionNo
Known AllelopathNo
Height, Mature (feet)16.0
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (fee16
Growth RateModerate
Growth FormThicket Forming
Fruit/Seed ColorBlack


Reproduction

Vegetative Spread RateModerate
Small GrainNo
Seedling VigorMedium
Seed Spread RateModerate
Fruit/Seed Period EndFall
Seed per Pound12000
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by ContainerYes
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by Bare RootYes
Fruit/Seed PersistenceYes
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed AbundanceMedium
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Bloom PeriodMid Spring
Propagated by CuttingsNo


Suitability/Use

Veneer ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Post ProductNo
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable Browse AnimalMedium
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Fodder ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo

<i>Swida foemina</i> (Mill.) Rydb.

<i>Swida foemina</i> (Mill.) Rydb.

<i>Swida foemina</i> (Mill.) Rydb.

<i>Swida foemina</i> (Mill.) Rydb.

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