About Cornus mas
Yellow dogwood is a native shrub or small tree native to central and southern Europe. This dogwood is distinguished from other species by its very early flowering and edible fruits. Its growth form is broad and bushy, often multi-stemmed from the base. It can develop into a large shrub or a small tree if stems are selected.
The branches are sturdy and grow in an open, natural structure. The bark is grey-brown and develops a slightly scaly texture with age. On older trunks, the bark can develop interesting texture. The young wood has a green to reddish-brown colour.
The leaf is elliptical with a pointed tip and distinct veins. The leaf colour is bright green in summer. In autumn, the leaves usually turn yellow-green to yellow, sometimes with red shades. The autumn colour is less spectacular than in other dogwood species, but still beautiful.
Flowering is the big special feature: as early as February-March, often before most other plants sprout, numerous small yellow flowers appear directly on the wood. These flowers appear in small bunches along the branches and give the whole plant a yellow glow. Flowering lasts about 3-4 weeks and is a very welcome early nectar source for bees. The flowering comes before the leaves, which enhances the effect.
After flowering, elongated, red fruits that resemble small olives develop. These cornelian cherries are edible and have a sour to sweet-sour flavour when fully ripe in August-September. They are rich in vitamin C and can be made into jam, juice or syrup. The fruits are also very popular with birds.
Yellow dogwood grows slowly to moderately fast and can grow 4-6 metres tall. The plant is very hardy, drought-tolerant and requires little maintenance. Its combination of early flowering, edible fruits and ecological value makes it a very valuable plant for natural gardens.
Application and location
Yellow dogwood is an excellent match for natural gardens, mixed hedges, woodland edges and fruit gardens. Its early flowering makes it a valuable plant for bees. Also suitable as a solitary in larger gardens or in groups with other shrubs. The edible fruits make it interesting for fruit lovers.
Plant the shrub in full sun to semi-shade. For optimum fruit formation, choose a sunny spot. The yellow dogwood is very tolerant in terms of soil type and grows on everything from clay to sand, including calcareous soil. The plant tolerates drought well once established. Excellent hardy to well below -25°C and wind resistant.
Give the plant 4-6 metres of space. Pruning is hardly necessary, at most some thinning of old branches. The plant can also develop into a small tree if you select one or a few stems. The fruits are edible but ripen late in summer. For natural gardens with attention to biodiversity and edible planting, this is a very valuable, low-maintenance plant.
Do you already know exactly what you need?
Every garden and every greenery project is different. Therefore, at Smits Arboriculture we do not make standard quotations, but we like to look together at what suits your wishes, planning and the character of the project.
