Cornus mas - Cornelian Cherry - €11
​click below for cultivars

A Herald of spring, Cornellian Cherry is the first tree to flower in late February providing a valuable source of nectar for the bees. The flowers go on to form wonderful grape shaped fruits in late summer delicious when ripe.  The plant is drought and wind tolerant and can be used effectively in a windbreak. The plant takes well to pruning and can be shaped to form a dense hedge.  An excellent shade tree providing dense cool shade on the hottest of days, can also tolerate shade and will grow well in the under story of larger trees.  To order this plant please contact us [email protected]. 
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Context

  • native region: Europe
  • native habitat: Woodlands, especially in calcareous soils
  • family: Cornaceae

Predators

  • Birds and squirrels are attracted fruit 

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Semi-shade or  full sun 
  • soil pH:  Acid, neutral -basic alkaline 
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8
  • Prefers well drained soil 
  • Mulch with compost every spring whilst young 
  • This plant, once established, will yield well year after year with little or no care or pruning  

Functions, behaviours

  • animal dispersed seed
  • Yellow flowers burst in early spring followed by leaves
  • leaves drop in early winter and display awesome autumn colour 
  • Propagation from hard wood cuttings is possible  
  • Makes a great hedging plant 
  • Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus
  • The plants we offer may take 10-15 yrs to fruit but will yield for many more years than cultivated plants grown from cuttings or grafts.
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Nectar laden early spring flowers, later to become plump red fruits.

Overview


  • Deciduous Shrub growing to 5m by 5m at a medium rate 
  • It is in flower from Feb to March, and the seeds ripen in September. 
  • The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees.
  • Noted for attracting wildlife. 
  • Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil.
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
  • Can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. 
  • The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Characteristics

  • form: large shrub
  • layer :Lower Canopy
  • habit: standard tree with bush like crown  
  • height x width (m): 5 x 5
  • years to bearing fruit: 10 -15 yrs  
  • productive life span: 60 yrs 

Products 

  • Fruit: Drupes; August-Oct, Eat fresh when ripe or make juice and jams. Data indicate that Cornelian cherry juices are rich in various essential elements and might be considered as an important dietary mineral supplementation.
  • Yield: 50Kg each summer at maturity 
  • Seeds: Roasted can be used as coffee substitute
  • Wood: Very tight and uniform grain makes the wood very hard and suitable for tool handles among other things.
  • Leaves and twigs: Can be fed to rabbits and goats  
  • Flowers: very early flowering, attracting bees in the early spring when little else is around  
  • Excellent Shade tree can also be grown as understory shrub  
  • Fruits are high in calcium and excess fruit can be added to sheet mulch as mineral additive.

Polyculture Partners - plants that should grow well with Cornus mas 

If you would like more information about this polyculture click to here to move over to our blog article. 
If you would like this plant please send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project