Cornelian Cherry Dogwood

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Full Sun

(At Least 3 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

20 - 25 Feet

Mature Spread

12 - 15 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 9

The small yellow flowers of the Cornelian Cherry Dogwood are a sign of spring as this is one of the first plants to bloom. The flowers emerge even before the leaves. The clusters of flowers give way to round, red fruit by July. The green foliage is 2 to 4 inches long and grows in pairs on opposite sides of the stem. The leaves turn a reddish-purple in the fall before dropping. The brown bark peels away during the winter, providing visual interest all year long.

This deciduous multi-stem shrub has an upright, mounded growth habit and can be trained as a small tree. Use this plant as a hedge, create a privacy screen, or a specimen planting. The Cornelian Cherry Dogwood or Cornus mas is a perennial in USDA zones 5 through 9. This large plant will reach 20 to 25 feet tall and provide color and texture for all four seasons.

Cornelian Cherry Dogwood Care

The Cornelian Cherry Dogwood needs full sun to part shade, so a spot that receives at least 4 to 6 hours of sunlight is best. Use moist but well-drained soil that is rich and acidic to neutral. For the first year, dogwood plants like damp conditions, so water when the first few inches of soil feel dry. Once established, this plant will be drought tolerant. 

Dogwood plants naturally maintain a good shape, so this shrub will not require much pruning but trim away damaged growth as needed. Top-dress the soil with rich organic mulch to support healthy growth.

Cornelian Cherry Dogwood Spacing

The Cornelian Cherry Dogwood will grow 20 to 25 feet tall and 12 to 15 feet wide. Plant shrubs 14 to 18 feet apart to create a dense hedge or row.

SKU:

1021047-pc