What hardiness zones is Cornus mas suitable for?

Cornus mas is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

How much water does Cornus mas need?

Cornus mas has Low water needs.

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Broadleaf Deciduous Trees

Cornus mas

Cornelian cherry

Cornaceae

Central and southeastern Europe east to the Caucasus and western Asia

At a Glance

TypeTree

HabitUpright

FoliageDeciduous

Height15-25 feet (4.5-7.5 m)

Width12-20 feet (3.6-6 m)

Maturity12 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

4 - 8

Zone 4

Zone 5

Zone 6

Zone 7

Zone 8

These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.

Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators

Deer Resistant

Drought Tolerant

Maintenancevery low

Overview

Cornus mas (Cornelian cherry) is a large deciduous shrub or small multi-stemmed tree native to Europe and western Asia, reaching 15–25 feet (4.5–7.5 m) tall and 12–20 feet (3.6–6 m) wide in a dense, rounded to vase-shaped form. It is among the earliest-flowering woody plants in Pacific Northwest gardens, producing tiny bright yellow flowers in dense rounded clusters 0.5–0.75 inch (13–19 mm) across directly on bare branches in February through March — before forsythia, before witch hazel has finished, before most bulbs are up. The individual flowers are very small and the overall display is modest at a distance, but up close on a bare gray winter day the warm yellow clusters scattered along every branch are charming and unmistakable. After flowering, broadly oval opposite leaves emerge and the shrub provides dense, clean green foliage through summer. In August through September, cherry-like oblong fruits 0.5–0.75 inch (13–19 mm) long ripen to deep glossy red — technically edible, with a sour-astringent flavor when fully ripe that improves significantly in preserves, fruit leather, and traditional European preparations (syrups, liqueurs, and jam). Two plants are needed for reliable cross-pollination and heavy fruit set. On trees 15–20 years old, the bark develops an attractive scaly, mottled, exfoliating texture. Great Plant Picks endorsed. Essentially pest- and disease-free in PNW conditions — one of the most trouble-free ornamental trees available.

Native Range

Native to central and southeastern Europe, Turkey, and western Asia, from France east to Ukraine and south to the Caucasus. Grows naturally in open woodland, scrub, and forest margins on well-drained slopes. Cultivated in European gardens for centuries for fruit and ornament.

Suggested Uses

Outstanding for very early winter-to-spring interest — the February yellow flowering display on bare branches fills a gap in the ornamental calendar when almost nothing else is in bloom. Great Plant Picks endorsed for PNW gardens. Essentially maintenance-free once established, with exceptional soil and pH adaptability. Dual-purpose for ornament and edible fruit: the red fruits in August through September make excellent jam, fruit leather, and European-style preserves. Can be grown as a large specimen, multi-stemmed screen, or informal hedge. The exfoliating bark on older specimens adds winter texture. Highly underused in PNW gardens relative to its ornamental and practical value.

How to Identify

Identified in February through March by dense rounded clusters of tiny bright yellow flowers 0.5–0.75 inch (13–19 mm) across appearing on bare gray branches — no other common PNW landscape tree blooms in this yellow-on-bare-branches style at this early date (witchhazel is yellow too but has ribbon-like petals; forsythia blooms later). Broadly oval opposite leaves with characteristic dogwood parallel curved venation emerge after flowering. Glossy deep red oblong fruits 0.5–0.75 inch (13–19 mm) in late summer are distinctive. On older trees, the scaly mottled exfoliating bark and multi-stemmed habit are characteristic.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height15' - 25'

Width/Spread12' - 20'

Reaches mature size in approximately 12 years

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

dark green

Fall Foliage Colors

red

purple

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Spring

Blooms February through March — one of the first woody plants to flower in PNW gardens. Tiny bright yellow flowers in dense rounded clusters 0.5–0.75 inch (13–19 mm) across appear on every bare branch before leaf-out. The display is subtle at a distance but rewarding up close; it persists for 3–4 weeks in cool weather. Glossy deep red cherry-like fruits 0.5–0.75 inch (13–19 mm) ripen in August through September. For heavy fruit production, plant two individuals of different seedling origin or named cultivars for cross-pollination.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

bright yellow (tiny, in rounded clusters)

Foliage Description

medium to dark green in summer; reddish-purple in fall

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun

Partial Shade

Requires 3-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loamclaychalksand

Drainage

well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

10-15 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

One of the most adaptable and trouble-free ornamental trees for PNW landscapes. Tolerates a wide range of soils including clay, chalk, and poor drainage; thrives in slightly alkaline to slightly acidic conditions — much more pH-flexible than most dogwoods. Full sun produces the best flowering and fruit; tolerates considerable shade. Drought-tolerant once established. Essentially no significant pests or diseases in PNW conditions. For reliable fruit production, plant at least two individuals (different cultivars or seedling sources) within 50 feet (15 m) of each other. The large mature size (15–25 ft) requires generous siting; it can also be kept smaller with periodic pruning or trained as a hedge.

Pruning

Prune after flowering (March through April) to minimize the loss of the following year's flower buds, which form on the current season's growth. Remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches. Cornus mas tolerates hard pruning and coppicing and can be shaped as a hedge or screen. For specimens grown for fruit production, avoid heavy pruning that removes the previous season's fruiting wood. Minimal pruning is needed on trees grown for ornamental effect.

Pruning Schedule

early spring

Maintenance Level

very low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic