Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
4/24/03
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Linda Naeve, Reiman Gardens, (515) 294-2710, lnaeve@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
Cornelian Cherry Dogwood Adds Diversity to the Landscape
By Linda Naeve
Extension Coordinator
Reiman Gardens
If you ask 10 people on the street to name two spring-flowering trees or shrubs, chances are they would say flowering crabapple, lilac, forsythia, redbud, or rhododendron. Although there are a few other colorful trees and shrubs, our palate of spring bloomers is relatively limited. As with most things, we tend to go with what works, what is familiar to us, and what is readily available.
This week's Reiman's Pick - Cornelian cherry dogwood - is a lesser known and used spring-flowering shrub. It is one of the first shrubs to flower in late winter and early spring. The tiny, yellow, star-like flowers are clustered into showy inflorescences on the tips of the bare branches. In most years, they bloom for about three weeks.
After flowering, the Cornelian cherry dogwood is covered with glossy, dark green leaves. The fall color is considered only average because the leaves are a mixture of green and reddish purple.
Cornelian cherry dogwood, Cornus mas, is a member of the dogwood family, not the cherry family. It is native to central and southern Europe and western Asia. Its name may come from the shape and color of the fruit. After the flowers fade, small fruit, called drupes, develop and turn bright cherry red in July. The fruit are not very conspicuous because they are often hidden by the foliage and are quickly eaten by birds.
Cornelian cherry dogwood can be considered a large shrub or small tree. It grows fairly upright with a spreading or mounding form up to 20 feet in height and 20 feet in width. It can be maintained as either multi-trunked or single-trunked. A Cornelian cherry dogwood can be maintained as a shrub by heading it back and thinning out old stems after it blooms. If grown as a small tree with a single stem, it is necessary to remove the lower branches and any root suckers that sprout up under the tree.
Unlike some dogwood species, Cornelian cherry is hardy through most of Iowa. It prefers moist, well-drained soils, but is tolerant of less-than-perfect soil conditions and heat and drought. It prefers full sun to partial shade.
There are many landscape uses for Cornelian cherry dogwood. It can be grown as a hedge, a screen or a foundation plant. The architectural form of Cornelian cherry dogwood makes it a good choice for planting in the corners of buildings. Planting this dogwood next to a dark background, such as a red brick wall or among evergreens enhances its beauty in the spring. Cornelian cherry dogwood is equally adapted and effective when naturalized at the edge of a wooded area or wildlife habitat.
Cornelian cherry dogwood is considered a great choice for low-maintenance gardens because it is virtually pest-free. The primary maintenance includes removing unwanted shoots or suckers around the base of the main trunks of the plant to prevent it from spreading.
If you are looking for a notable, less commonly used landscape plant, consider the Cornelian cherry dogwood. You can see a beautiful grouping of them just north of the Helen Latch Jones Rose Garden at Reiman Gardens.
To learn more about the Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University visit us on the Web at: http://www.reimangardens.iastate.edu/.
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Editors: Three color photos, suitable for publication, are available at right. Click on each thumbnail photo to go to the fullsized photo. The top picture's fullsize photo is 304K; the middle picture's fullsize photo is 284K; and the bottom picture's fullsize photo is 380K. Caption: Cornelion cherry dogwood (Cornus mas) 1. |
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| Caption: Cornelion cherry dogwood (Cornus mas) 2. |  |
| Caption: Cornelion cherry dogwood (Cornus mas) 3. |  |
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