Cornus mas (also called Cornelian cherry)
Cornus
mas
Deciduous, open, spreading shrub or small tree. Grown for small yellow flowers in late winter and red berries in autumn. Flowers are useful for early foraging insects and the fruits attract birds, so a good wildlife tree.
Winter flowers, autumn fruits. Attractive autumn foliage.
Open, spreading shrub or small tree. H and S: 5m.
Leaves, medium to dark green, slightly shiny, up to 8cm long, opposite, broad elliptic, wavy and curving leaf margins. Autumn colour is a mixture of green and reddish-purple foliage.
Flowers, small clusters of star-shaped yellow flowers on bare shoots in winter and early spring.
Fruit, edible, red, oblong, up to 2cm long. Not often noticed because hidden by foliage. Attractive to wildlife.
Sun or partial shade.
Well drained, light.
Fully hardy.
No routine pruning is needed, although bushes can be cut back at any time while dormant if they are becoming too large.
Generally pest and disease free.
Sow seed from November to February. Take half-ripe cuttings in summer or hardwood cuttings, with a heel, in autumn.
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