Chinese Cornelian Dogwood Cornus officinalis
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cornus officinalis var. koreana
- Macrocarpium officinale
- Phonetic Spelling
- KOR-nus oh-fiss-ih-NAH-liss
- Description
-
The Japanese cornelian dogwood is a deciduous large shrub or small tree native to north-central and southeastern China. It has been introduced in Japan and Korea. It is typically found in forests, forest margins, and mountain slopes. It is a member of the dogwood family (Cornaceae). The species epithet, officinalis, means "sold in shops or offices." This name references the plant's traditional use as a medicine.
It prefers acidic, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade, with protection from the hot summer afternoon sun. It can be challenging to find in the nursery trade but it is easy to transplant when young.
It has low branches with an open oval-to-round habit. The grayish-brown and exfoliating bark adds interest to a winter garden. Yellow flowers bloom in late winter to early spring before the leaves emerge. The leaves are dull green on the upper surface. The undersides are a lighter green and may have tufts of reddish-brown hairs along the veins. The flowers appear as yellow clusters or umbels. The red drupes are ellipsoid in shape and contain a stone. Red fruits appear in the fall and are attractive to birds, and plants provide nesting sites
The Japanese cornelian dogwood is similar to the cornelian cherry (Cornus mas). The Japanese cornelian dogwood flowers earlier, the fruits ripen later, and the exfoliating bark is more attractive.
The Japanese cornelian dogwood makes a great flowering tree with showy edible fruits. It works well in a woodland garden or naturalized area. Grown as a shrub you can use it as a foundation planting, border, or hedge.
Quick ID Hints:
- Grayish-brown exfoliating bark
- Clusters of yellow blooms in late winter and early spring, before the leaves emerge
- Dull green leaves on the upper surface, lower surface lighter green with tufts of reddish-brown hairs along the veins
- Small bright red fruits in the fall
Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Suckering can be weedy, so promptly remove them to avoid spread.
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.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Kintoki'
Smaller than the species, has heavy flowering - 'Spring Glow'
Low broad tree yellow flowers red fruits and good fall color
- 'Kintoki'
- 'Kintoki', 'Spring Glow'
- Tags:





















































- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Kintoki'
Smaller than the species, has heavy flowering - 'Spring Glow'
Low broad tree yellow flowers red fruits and good fall color
- 'Kintoki'
- 'Kintoki', 'Spring Glow'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cornus
- Species:
- officinalis
- Family:
- Cornaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The fruit is used in Chinese medicine. In China, the fruit is known as "Zhu yu" or "Zao pi." The fruit is made into a tonic, and it may be prescribed for the treatment of impotence, lumbago, vertigo, and night sweats.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North Central and Southeast China
- Distribution:
- Native: North Central and Southeast China; Introduced: Japan and Korea
- Wildlife Value:
- The fruits attract birds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Colorful
- Textural
- Edibility:
- Fruits are edible but astringent so may be best left for the birds.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Multi-stemmed
- Open
- Oval
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- 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:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a drupe that is red to purplish-red and appears in the fall. It is ellipsoid in shape and measures about 1/4 inch long and 1/8 inch wide. The fruits are edible but are very astringent. Each drupe contains an ellipsoid shaped stone.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Bracts
- Flower Description:
- A cluster of short-stalked, yellow flowers with 4 drooping bracts on naked stems in late winter to early spring before leaf out.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Each leaf measures from 2 to 4 inches long and 1 to 1.5 inches wide. The upper surface of the leaf is dull green and has entire margins. The undersides of the leaf are a lighter green and sometimes have tufts of reddish-brown hairs in the axils veins. The leaves appear opposite and ovate to elliptic or ovate to lanceolate. Fall color is variable from dull yellow to attractive reddish-purple.
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-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Orange
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- The exfoliating bark is grayish-brown. The winter buds are terminal or axillary and solitary or associated with a flower bud.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Understory Tree
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Weedy