I Remember when I was going college I walked every day to get the the bus. I used this time to learn the 300 or so plants which were required for me to pass the program. Fortunately in the few blocks to the bus stop there were many plants on the list. As the seasons progressed I saw the changes that occurred with each of the plants I studied from fall, through winter and into spring. I would never have noticed the bushy shrub-like tree which I stood in front of every morning until it burst into bloom at this time of the year. To my delight it was a Cornus mas or Cornelian Cherry Dogwood which produced a spectacular golden display before most other plants are in bloom. I never saw another one until….
This tree is in the Doris Page Winter Garden at Glendale Gardens
I regularly visit the Glendale Gardens and found several in bloom, WOW is all I can say. This year since I knew I would write about Cornus mas I have been on the hunt for others and have struck several golde(en) bonanzas. I looked in the usual places and was not disappointed, two at Government House and two at Finnerty Gardens.
The real surprise was on the way to Government House driving along Fairfield Road. I saw an incredible huge example at the corner of Trutch Street. and Fairfield Road. I am so glad to find a Cornus mas that is on a street side instead of of a park or fancy garden. This is a highly traveled site that anyone can go by and enjoy the beauty of this tree.
This wonderful plant comes from central and southern Europe and also is found in Western Asia where its large ‘cherry-like’ fruit is used for making jams and sauces. In Armenia the fruit is added to Vodka to flavor it. The deep red ripe fruit is an oblong drupe which is up to 3/4in. long by 1/2in wide and contains a large stone. Several Cornelian Cherry Dogwood cultivars have been selected with unusually large fruit for commercial production.
The best thing about Cornus mas is that it is easy to grow and will fit into many planting schemes. It works well as a specimen or in a winter garden, in a natural or woodland setting. As it has a small stature of no more than 25ft by 15ft it will fit well into many small urban gardens. It also looks good in small feature groups or in a mixed shrub border where its bright flowers will standout from the dark background.
It is the least fussy of the large Cornus (Dogwood trees) and will tolerate any soil from dry to quite wet. It grows best in full sun to part shade which is especially needed in hot drier climates as the leaves are thin and loose moisture easily. Cornus mas plants take pruning very well and is often shaped into a several stemmed small tree which helps to show off the attractive flaking bark.
There have been several well known forms of Cornelian Cherry Dogwoods which may be available in your area. ‘Aurea’ with golden leaves, ‘Variegata’ which is edged in cream and ‘Elegantissim’ with pink or golden highlights are some of the foliage forms. There are also golden and white fruited forms known. On top of these there are pyrimidal, dwarf and extremely cold hardy (‘Ukraine’ tolerates -30f.) selections available. Zones 5 through 8.
Links of the Week:
To learn more about Cornus mas go here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/howtogrow/3308195/How-to-grow-Cornus-mas.html
or here: http://hcs.osu.edu/hcs/TMI/Plantlist/co_mas.html
Until we meet again on Wednesday for a new clue and the start of a new story.
Thanks for another great mystery plant. Once again I was no where near the correct answer!
there’s a tree that looks very much like cornus mas but I don’t think it’s the same tree. This one flowers yellow all over and then at one time, the flowers turn all white. Amazing. I remembered seeing it somewhere in the compound of Humboldt State University, California.
We have an L-shaped hedge of them along part of one side and part of the back of our yard. They’ve been pruned into hedges for years, and I would LOVE to rejuvenate them. They are beautiful in bloom, the shiny foliage is attractive all summer and late into the fall here, and the wildlife is crazy for the berries, which are nice if you can get to them before the critters devour them.
For me, this is the dogwood I know the best, as it is native here.
We call it ‘gele kornoelje’ or ‘eetbare kornoelje’ which could be translated as ‘yellow cornel’ and ‘edible cornel’. I think it is also called European Cornel in the UK.
Last weekend I planted a new one in my garden. I do have some ‘gele kornoeljes’ already, but they are growing in rather heavy shade and don’t thrive. They have some flowers, but don’t produce fruits. And I like both the flowers and the fruits, so I planted another one on a sunny spot.
I was just informed by my landscaper that my very over grown tree was a Cornelian Cherry Dogwood. It was so large that it was hanging onto the sidewalk and neighbors were breaking off the branches. It was over 30 feet tall. I just had it trimmed back to about 15. It looks so much better. I always liked this tree, it was one of the first signs of color after winter. I had no idea the fruit could be eaten. Now I am curious.