Cornelian Cherry Dogwood Tree

Cornelian Cherry Dogwood Tree

Very well-known and popular in Eastern Europe and Asia, the Cornelian Cherry Dogwood tree is also rising in popularity in America. Not only does it have one of the easiest to grow fruits, but it also has very little pest and disease pressure. Additionally, they are one of the first trees to flower in the spring and produce beautiful yellow blossoms that make it a good choice for landscaping. Their cherry-red fruits are beloved by birds and are delicious as jams and preserves. Lastly, they are perfect for growing in polycultures since they grow well around other plants.  

These trees didn’t fail to capture the attention of the Roman poet, Ovid. In fact, he mentions the tree in The Metamorphoses when he describes the Golden Age when men could pick berries from trees. Armenians, Greeks, Romans and Persians also mentioned these fruits in their texts.  Moreover, some believe that the Trojan Horse may have been made from the wood of this tree because it was one of the strongest in the region. 

Growing Characteristics

• Uses: The fruits are not only healthy for you but also delicious. You can eat them fresh or process them in jams. Additionally, this tree is perfect for using as the focus of interest in a garden because of its beautiful color and shape. Moreover you can use these trees as a hedge and in groupings. 
• Health Benefits: The berry-like fruits these trees produce are very healthy and enjoyed throughout Europe and Asia where it is native. In fact, they have high levels of Vitamin C and so can help prevent the common cold and flu.
• Size/Shape: At maturity the tree reaches  20′ – 25′ feet in height.‘ and has a spread of around 15-20’. It grows in a round shape. It can grow as a tree or a multi-stemmed shrub.
• Color: Throughout the year, you will see yellow, red, green, and burgundy in this one tree! In the spring, the yellow long-lasting blooms captivate the human eye as well as insects. The fruit itself is a bright cherry-red. Lastly, the leaves are glossy green and change to yellow-burgundy in the fall. 
• Harvest Period: The fruits will ripen in July. 
• Hardiness Zones: 4-8
• Pests and Diseases
  • Even though these trees have very little disease and pest pressure, you can be on the lookout for some of these pests and diseases. 
    • Anthracnose: this is a fungal disease with leaf spots but this dogwood isn’t as affected as other dogwoods.
    • Canker: the best way to treat this disease is by preventing it. Therefore try not to wound the tree during transplanting, mowing, and pruning. Early signs of it include small and pale leaves. Then the signs spread from the infected location to the whole tree when the canker grows. You can also take out the canker and diseased wood to try to save the tree.
• Bloom Period: This tree is one of the first to bloom in February/ March.
• Pollination: Although this dogwood can self-pollinate and has both male and female parts, the fruit quantity will increase with a cross pollinator of a different variety. In fact, if you grow a tree from seed, this will be a great cross-pollinator.
• Cultivation: With a full/partial sun and in soil that is moist, rich, and well-drained, this tree can grow 24″ per year. However it does have some drought tolerance and can survive in a wide range of soil and moisture conditions.
• Soil Preference: This tree can grow in acidic, alkaline, drought tolerant, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, silty loam, well drained, wide range, clay soils.
• Wildlife Value: As an early blooming tree, it provides needed nectar for insects in late February. Additionally, birds love the fruit.

Check out our guides page for information on how to take care of trees.