Cornelian Cherry Cornus mas
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KOR-nus mass
- Description
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This small tree or large shrub is valued for its early spring bloom. Flaking bark; easy to transplant; tough, adaptable, large shrub to small tree; spreads by suckers so promptly remove. Usually, branches form to the ground. It withstands a variety of soil pH and types including heavy clay. Deer browse leaves and twigs.
Seasons of Interest:
Foliage: Fall Bloom: Summer, early Fruit: Summer-Fall, red berries Bark: Winter
Insects, Diseases and Other Problems: Calico scale, dogwood sawfly, Japanese maple scale, leafhoppers, oyster shell scale, leaf and flower blight (botrytis), crown canker, bacterial leaf scorch, powdery mildew, septoria leaf spot
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Aurea'
- 'Spring Glow'
- 'Variegata'
- 'Aurea'
- 'Aurea', 'Spring Glow', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aurea'
- 'Spring Glow'
- 'Variegata'
- 'Aurea'
- 'Aurea', 'Spring Glow', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cornus
- Species:
- mas
- Family:
- Cornaceae
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe and Asia
- Distribution:
- Central and southern Europe and western Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits are a food source to birds and squirrels and plants provide nesting sites. Members of the genus Cornus support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Gonandrena) fragilis, Andrena (Gonandrena) integra, and Andrena (Gonandrena) platyparia. The leaves and twigs are a food source for deer.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Has excellent dogwood borer and anthracnose resistance.
- Edibility:
- Fruits are edible.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Horizontal
- Multi-trunked
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Small oblong drupe 5/8" long and 1/2" wide red fruit in mid-summer July-August
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Early spring one of the first trees to bloom in March and last three weeks yellow born on stalked umbles.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2"-4" long 1 -1 1/2" wide opposite, simple, entire margins acute apex. Dark green leaves; last into late fall; non-showy to purple-red fall color
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Bark:
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Ridges
- Shaggy
- Bark Description:
- Exfoliating flaky and scaly, rough
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Recreational Play Area
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
