Early Herald of Spring

For three weeks in very early spring, Cornelian cherry dogwood displays a cloud of delicate but dramatic yellow flowers on a small, rounded, spreading tree. Later in the season, dark green shiny leaves emerge and remain attractive and blemish-free until fall. The green, olive-like edible fruits turn deep red in July. The tart fruits are popularly made into preserves in Eastern Europe. They are ornamental, too, but birds often strip the tree in a day or two. The tree is quick-growing, cold-hardy, pollution-tolerant, clean and pest-free. It needs no pesticides to keep it healthy.

Cornelian cherry dogwood makes a fine little specimen or street tree if its lower limbs are pruned up, and an edible hedge if allowed to spread out. It is adaptable to a range of soils and pHs, but is at its best in a moist, well-drained soil. Grass will not usually thrive underneath it, so under-planting with hardy shade-tolerant perennials is ideal. Some appropriate candidates are wild geranium, hosta, ferns or hardy cyclamen.

Common Name: Cornelian cherry dogwood

Botanical Name: Cornus mas

Varieties/Cultivars to Look For: ‘Spring Glow’; ‘Golden Glory’ upright form; ‘Elegant’, ‘Pioneer’ and ‘Redstone’ fruit production; ‘Elegantissima’ variegated leaves.

Color: Yellow

Blooming Period: March

Fruits: Red, edible, July

Type: Flowering tree

Size: 20 feet tall by 20 feet wide

Exposure: Sun/part shade

When to Plant: Spring

How to Plant: Amend soil with compost, space 10 feet from walls or woody plants, mulch 1 to 2 inches

Soil: Moist, well-drained, but plant is very adaptable

Watering: 1 inch per week during first year establishment period

When to Prune: Remove suckers or low limbs in winter

In Your Landscape: Best with a dark or evergreen backdrop. Hardy small street tree if pruned up.

 

(Photos By Ann McCulloh)

 

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Ann McCulloh, a career horticulturist, is curator of plant collections at Cleveland Botanical Garden, located in University Circle in Cleveland.

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