Cornus officinalis
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cornus officinalis var. koreana
- Description
-
This deciduous large shrub or small tree has picturesque multi-stemmed, low branches with an open oval to round habit. It prefers acidic well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade, but protection from hot summer afternoon sun. It can be challenging to find in the nursery trade but it is easy to transplant when young. It makes a great flowering tree with showy edible fruits, that works well in a woodland garden or naturalized area. Grown as a shrub you can use it as a foundation planting or a hedge.
Seasons of Interest:
Foliage: Fall Bloom: Summer, early Fruit: Summer-Fall, red berries Bark: Winter
Wildlife Value: Fruits are attractive to birds 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.
Insects, Diseases and Other Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Suckering can be weedy, so promptly remove them to avoid spread.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Kintoki'
- 'Kintoki'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Kintoki'
- 'Kintoki'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cornus
- Species:
- officinalis
- Family:
- Cornaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China
- Edibility:
- Fruits are edible but astringent so may be best left for the birds.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Shrub
- Tree
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Multi-stemmed
- Open
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
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:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 0.5" shiny, oblong red fruit in clusters summer through fall.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Bracts
- Flower Description:
- A cluster of short-stalked, yellow flowers with 4 drooping bracts on naked stems in early spring;
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Simple, entire margins, oppostite, elliptic to ovate leaf is 4" long. Brown hairs can be found in the axils of the leaf veins on the underside of the leaves. Fall color is variable from dull yellow to attractive reddish-purple.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Orange
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- Exfoliating brown, gray, and orange bark.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Weedy
- Cornus officinalis is often confused with:
-
Cornus mas
- Plants that fill a similar niche:
-
Cornus mas
-
Cornus sericea
-
Cornus kousa
