European Cornel Cornus mas

The cornelian cherry dogwood is a deciduous shrub or small tree that can grow up to 25 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Its yellow flowers appear in early spring before the leaves emerge. Red fruits develop and mature in the mid-summer. On mature trees, the bark is scaly and exfoliating. The plant has excellent resistance to dogwood anthracnose and the dogwood borer.

The shrub or small tree is native to central and southern Europe as well as western Asia. 

The genus name, Cornus, is Latin from the word cornu, which means "horn." This references the hardness of the wood. The species name, mas, is Latin for the word "male." This refers to the possible absence of fruits on new plants for several years. The common name refers to the bright red fruits that resemble the gemstone, Carnelian.

The cornelian cherry dogwood prefers full to partial shade, and moist, well-drained rich soils. The plant produces suckers that need to be promptly removed to control its spread. It may be propagated by semi-hardwood or hardwood cuttings and grafting. The plant is tough, adaptable, and is low maintenance.

In late winter to early spring the bright small clusters of yellow flowers appear on the naked branches. The leaves are medium green and appear in the late spring to summer followed by dark red fruits that ripen mid-summer. The fall foliage is usually only a mix of green and yellow colors and occasionally reddish-purple.

The cornelian cherry dogwood has been recognized for its landscape appeal, winter hardiness, and pest resistance by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. This late winter and early spring bloomer would add color and interest to the landscape. Consider this plant for a shrub border, hedge, or screen. It may also be used in naturalized and woodland settings. 

Seasons of interest:

Foliage: late spring to summer       Bloom: late winter to early spring          Fruit:  mid-summer   Bark:  winter

Quick ID HInts:

• exfoliating bark
• yellow flowers in the late March or early April
• dark green, glossy leaves
• red olive-shaped fruits in mid-summer
• fall foliage is a mix of green and yellow with some reddish-purple color

Seasons of Interest:

   Foliage: Fall    Bloom: Summer, early   Fruit: Summer-Fall, red berries  Bark: Winter

Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems:  The plant has very few serious diseases or pest problems.  Calico scale, dogwood sawfly, Japanese maple scale, leafhoppers, oyster shell scale, leaf and flower blight (botrytis), crown canker, bacterial leaf scorch, powdery mildew, and septoria leaf spot can occur. 

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.