Cornus mas

Cornus mas - Cornelian Cherry

General:
The native Cornelian cherry grows rather inconspicuously in our area as a large shrub or small tree on the edge of the forest or in bushes. In spring, however, it is often the first species of wood that attracts attention with its lush, bright yellow flowers and arouses anticipation for spring. The flowers are also a very valuable pasture for bees and in the course of the year they turn into shiny red edible fruits. These fruits are very rich in vitamin C. The leaves of the cornel are elliptical, glossy green and bluish from below. In autumn the leaves turn yellow-orange and reddish. The wood also grows extremely dense, making it the hardest in all of Europe.

Care as a bonsai:
The glorious blooms and bright red fruits of the cornelian cherry are certainly one of the main reasons why it should not be missing in any bonsai collection. As a shrub, it flowers and produces fruit when it is only 3-5 years old. In addition, their ability to cut and grow creates further good conditions for a successful bonsai design. The soil should not be kept too dry in summer. However, waterlogging must also be avoided. The Cornelian cherry loves a bright location, but sheltered from strong summer sun. Although temperatures down to -15 ° C in the foil house have not yet harmed our young plants, older specimens should in any case be protected from late frosts in spring.