Description

Cornus mas, also known as male dogwood, is a hardy, deciduous shrub in the Cornaceae family. It is easy to grow and appreciated for its early flowering and attractive fruit. The leaves are opposite, simple, oval with prominent veins, 5 to 12 cm long and dark green in summer, turning red or purple in autumn. The flowers appear before the leaves in early spring. They are small, yellow and grouped in dense clusters that cover the bare branches of the shrub. The fruit are oval drupes, bright red when ripe, about 2 cm long, edible with a tangy flavour when ripe. Its bark is smooth and grey, becoming cracked with age.

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Origin

Cornus mas is native to Europe and western Asia, where it grows in woods, forest margins and rocky areas. It occurs naturally in a number of countries, including Central and Southern Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor and Iran. It is also grown as an ornamental shrub in many parts of the world. Its fruit can be eaten fresh or processed into jams, jellies, syrups or even liqueurs. It is often planted in gardens as an ornamental shrub or used to form hedges. Although less widely used than other dogwood species, the wood of Cornus mas can be used to make small craft items.