Korean cornel dogwood (Cornus officinalis) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Korean cornel dogwood is a small tree grown in U.S. gardens, with clusters of yellow flowers that open in late winter to early spring before the leaves appear. Its red fall fruits are used in traditional medicine in East Asia, and it is easy to confuse with Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas). It is also commonly called Japanese cornelian dogwood.

Appearance

Growth form: A large, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub or small tree, usually 15–30 ft (4.5–9 m) tall and 15–25 ft (4.5–7.5 m) wide. Its gray-brown bark peels in flakes.
Leaves: Oval leaves in opposite pairs. Fall color varies from dull yellow to reddish purple.
Flowers: Small yellow flowers packed into rounded clusters on the bare branches.
Flowering time: Blooms in late winter to early spring, before the leaves appear.
Fruit: Oblong red to purplish-red ripen in fall. They are edible but very astringent.

Look-alikes

Cornelian cherryCornus mas

Both have yellow flowers on bare branches. Korean cornel dogwood usually blooms earlier, bears fruit later, and has bark that peels more noticeably than Cornelian cherry.

Why they get mixed upThe flowers and red fruits look very similar.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: gardens
parks
shrub borders
Range: Native to parts of China, this tree has long been grown in Korea and Japan. In the US it is planted as an ornamental, including in North Carolina.
Preferred conditions: Grows in 5–8 in full sun to part shade, in well-drained, slightly acidic soil.

Name and classification

Varieties and forms: 'Kintoki' is grown for its heavy yellow flowering. 'Spring Glow' is another garden selection; it was once labeled Cornelian cherry but belongs to this species.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

16 sources