Japanese cornelian cherry dogwood Cornus officinalis

The Japanese Cornelian Dogwood is a deciduous large shrub or small tree that is picturesque and multi-stemmed. It has low branches with an open oval to round habit. Yellow flowers bloom in late winter to early spring before the leaves emerge. Red fruits appear in the fall and are attractive to birds. The grayish-brown and exfoliating bark adds interest to a winter garden. 

The Japanese Cornelian Dogwood is 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.

The genus name, Cornus, is Latin from the word, cornu, which means "horn." This references the hardness of the wood. The species name, officinalis, means "sold in shops." This references the plant's use, supposedly, as a medicine. The plant has several other common names including Japanese Cornel, Korean Cornelian Dogwood, and Chinese Cornelian Dogwood. 

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. 

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. 

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 a hedge.

The 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.

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.

Seasons of Interest:   

Foliage:  Fall       Bloom:  Spring      Fruit:  Fall      Bark:  Winter

Quick ID Hints:

• Grayish-brown exfoliating bark
• Clusters of yellow blooms in late winter and early spring
• 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.