Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Plant of the Month: Cornelian cherry

Cornus mas.  Photo by Roseann Barnhill.

The Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) is not a cherry at all, but rather a dogwood, and is getting ready to flower in the Garden in the coming weeks. This species provide a delightful show of small, pale yellow flowers, and we are lucky that Mareen Kruckeberg’s artful pruning shaped several specimens in the Garden beautifully. In summer the birds relish its edible red fruits.

The species is native to central and southern Europe, where it was once commonly cultivated for its fruit. It is mainly used for making jam. In eastern Europe it is distilled into liquor, while in Iran and Turkey it is eaten as a snack. Several cultivars have been selected for increased fruit production.

Cornus mas is a small tree reaching around 20' in height. It prefers sun or partial shade. Though tolerant, it does best in rich, moist, and well-drained soil. It is typically multi-stemmed, but limbing up from the base can give it an elegant, tree-like shape when done well.

The Kruckeberg Botanic Garden is located at 20312 15th Ave NW and is open to the public Friday-Sunday from 10am - 3pm. The on-site MsK Nursery sells native and exotic plants well suited for Northwest gardens. For more information, contact the Garden at 206-546-1281 or the website.

--Sarah Baker, Director, MsK Rare and Native Plant Nursery