Cornus mas

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Common name: cornelian cherry

Family: Cornaceae

Distribution: western Asia, Europe

Habitat: Forest, shrubland to 1500 m

IUCN Red list: Least concern

Hardiness: Zone 4b -25 to -20 F

Life form: Deciduous tree

Usage: Ornamental flowering tree

Comments: Cornelian cherry is a deciduous shrub or small tree that is native to central and southern Europe into western Asia. It typically grows over time to 15-25' tall with a spread to 12-20' wide. Scaly, exfoliating bark develops on mature trunks. Yellow flowers on short stalks bloom in early spring before the leaves emerge in dense, showy, rounded umbels to 3/4" wide. Each umbel is surrounded at the base by small, yellowish, petaloid, non-showy bract. Ovate to elliptic dark green leaves to 4" long typically develop insignificant fall color. Fruits are ellipsoid, fleshy, one-seeded berries which mature to cherry red in mid-summer.
Best grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, organically rich soils.

Links: Great Plant Picks

1: 1000 s, 1500 e (ST 1000,1500) • Accession: 1984-008/1
2: 1000 s, 1500 e (ST 1000,1500) • Accession: 2015-064/1 • Provenance: Garden
3: 2400 s, 1600 e (ST 2400,1600) • Accession: 1928-3440/1
4: 2400 s, 1600 e (ST 2400,1600) • Accession: 1928-3454/1
5: 2400 s, 1600 e (ST 2400,1600) • Accession: 1981-020/1
6: 2600 s, 100 e (ST 2600,100) • Accession: 1928-3505/1
7: 2600 s, 100 e (ST 2600,100) • Accession: 1981-021/1
8: 2600 s, 200 e (ST 2600,200) • Accession: 1987-3529/1
9: 2600 s, 200 e (ST 2600,200) • Accession: 2003-181/1 • Origin: Turkey
10: 2600 s, 200 e (ST 2600,200) • Accession: 2003-181/3 • Origin: Turkey
11: 2900 s, 200 e (ST 2900,200) • Accession: 2015-063/1 • Provenance: Garden
12: Herbarium (HERB) • Accession: 1928-3454 (3)‎
13: Herbarium (HERB) • Accession: 1981-020 (2)‎
14: Herbarium (HERB) • Accession: 1987-3529

Hoyt Arboretum, Portland, Oregon, USA

Plant Database

Taxon

Cornus mas

Locations