Valued for its bright yellow flowers, Cornus mas is a spring time favorite. It is a small multistemmed deciduous tree with a round shape and dense compact branching that reaches to the ground. The flowers are produced on leafless stems in dense rounded clusters before the forsythia bloom, making this plant a true harbinger of spring. The flowers show best when seen against a wall or dark evergreen background. The berries that ripen in fall are attractive to birds. The dark green leaves are glossy and have short petioles attaching them to the stems that form a fine network. The bark is exfoliating and adds to winter interest. Cornus mas is an attractive tree all year long and is especially attractive when grown in a group. It is disease and pest resistant and tolerant of urban conditions.
Type: Deciduous flowering small tree
Outstanding Feature: Flowers in very early spring
Form: Multistemmed, rounded, dense, branched to the ground
Growth Rate: Moderate
Bloom: Rounded clusters of small flowers in late winter or very early spring
Size: 20-25’ H x 15-20’ W
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Rich, moist, well-drained but tolerates less.
Hardiness: Zones 4-8
Care: Eliminate suckers as they appear to contain spread; can be limbed up.
Pests and Diseases: None of significance
Propagation: Stem cuttings, seed
Outstanding Selection: ‘Golden Glory’ (heavy bloomer)
Karen Meyers