Leaf
Liliane Roubaudi, Tela Botanica · CC BY-SA 2.0
Cornelian cherry
Cornus mas L.
Also known as: European cornel
Family: Cornaceae
3 to 5 m tall
Hedges, woodland edges, gardens, limestone soils
Flowering: February – March
Full sun
Part shade
Hardy to -25°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
One of the very first shrubs to flower at the end of winter, sometimes as early as February.
🍃 Leaves
Deciduous, ovate, characteristic arching veins, bright green
🌸 Flowers
Small yellow flowers gathered in dense umbels, appearing very early in spring before the leaves.
🍎 Fruits
Elongated drupes, red when ripe, generally 1.5 to 2 cm, known as cornelian cherries; they become sweeter after bletting.
🪵 Bark
Grey bark flaking in small plates on old specimens
🗺️ Distribution
Central and southern Europe, western Asia; found in France mainly in the east and south-east, on limestone soil.
🐝 Value for pollinators
Very early yellow flowering (from February), an essential source of nectar and pollen before other plants flower.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Planted as a specimen or informal hedge for its early winter flowering and edible fruits.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No known toxicity; fruits edible (cornelian cherries).
🌿 Other Cornaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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