 | Cornelian Cherry - Cornus mas Family Cornaceae This dogwood is noted for its very early spring yellow flowers. It grows to 15 feet tall by 20 wide. [1] Tree Encyclopedia | Trees Index | Crabapples | Nut Trees | Fruit Trees Index |
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Cornelian cherry prefers moist, well-drained soil, and grows best in full sun, but is very tolerant of drought, poor or dry soils, and heat. Being a member of the dogwood family it has virtually no disease or insect pest problems. Small yellow flowers appear in March, before foliage. Small oblong fruits turn bright cherry red in July, but are generally inconspicuous, except to the birds and squirrels that devour them with relish [1]. |
Often touted as an attractive alternative to Forsythia, cornelian cherry is used in landscapes in windbreaks or as a medium-large specimen or ornamental. It can be grown as a multi-trunked tree or large shrub.  The wood of C. mas is so dense it does not float in water. This property makes it appropriate for tool handles, parts for machines, etc. Cornus mas was used from the seventh century B.C. onward by Greeks to construct spears, javelins and bows, the craftsmen considering it far superior to any other wood. [2] The composition of the family Cornaceae has been a matter of much controversy among taxonomists for many years. Many sources, i.e. Flora of China treats the family as consisting of a single genus, Cornus, [1] while others include 17 or more genera. Cornus L. sensu lato consists of 55 species that are mostly trees and shrubs and rarely perennial herbs with woody rhizomes [2]. The USDA Plants Database includes Cornus, Aucuba, Campotheca, and Nyssa (tupelo) genera in the family [3]. The hard wood of several species of Cornus is used for making farming tools. The fruit of some species is used for food or as a source of industrial oil. Cornus mas Linnaeus is cultivated in China for medicinal uses. Many species are widely cultivated as ornamentals, e.g., C. alba, C. canadensis, C. controversa, C. florida Linnaeus, C. kousa, C. mas, C. nuttallii Audubon, and C. stolonifera. [1]] Fruit a drupaceous berry, white, blue, red, or black. Berries distinct or fused into a fleshy syncarpous compound fruit; stone of fruit bony. |
| References 1. Ohio State University, "Cornus mas" 2. Wikipedia "*Cornelian Cherry" 3.Excerpts from Morton Arboretum articles used with permission. |
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Mountain-Ash and Whitebeams. The Rose family is a large assemblage of trees, shrubs and herbs including many of our most familiar and valued fruits. Our offerings include over 50 varieties of flowering crabapples and other fruit trees. Tree Encyclopedia | Tree Index | Rosaceae Index |
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