Cornus officinalis seed
LATIN NAME: CORNUS OFFICINALIS
COMMON NAME: Cornelian Cherry
In the mountain scrub of the east, the cornelian cherry grows as a tough, rounded, deciduous shrub or small tree with the oval, pointed, strongly veined leaves and the small, yellow flowers that open in tight clusters on the bare branches before the leaves in the late winter, the glossy, scarlet, oval fruits following in the autumn. In time it steadily becomes a rounded crown, reaching 5-10 metres. Site it in full sun, in deep, fertile ground.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The cornelian cherry comes up in the studies of the early-flowering dogwoods of the east, its winter-yellow flower clusters and its scarlet fruits keeping it in view in the work on the medicinal fruits of the traditional pharmacopoeia and the ornamental shrubs of the early garden. The research looks at the way the yellow clusters open before the leaves, the scarlet fruits ripen and fall, and the seed biology of the hard, grooved seeds.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
In the winter garden, the cornelian cherry opens the clouds of small, yellow flowers on the bare branches while the snow still lies, and sets the scarlet fruits that have been dried and used in the tonic traditions of the east for centuries. The dense bush feeds the early bees, and the shrub makes the fine early-flowering specimen, the fruit shrub and the plant of the open garden. It is a shrub for the sunny, open, deep and well-drained place.
To grow the Cornelian Cherry from seed, clean the seeds from the scarlet fruits and give them a cold, moist spell.
Clean the seeds from the scarlet fruits and give them a cold, moist spell, and keep the young shrubs in the open, sunny spot. The yellow flowers open before the leaves.
LATIN NAME: Cornus officinalis
COMMON NAME: Japanese Cornelian Cherry, Japanese Cornel, Shan Zhu Yu
The Japanese cornelian cherry is a generous and historic shrub of the East, and its bright yellow flowers of the early spring and its glossy red fruits have made it a treasure of the garden and the medicine of the region. It puts on growth and becomes an upright, leafy clump, to about sixty centimetres. It is a species of the dogwood family, and despite its name it is native to China and Korea as well as Japan, while it is not to be confused with the European cornelian cherry, Cornus mas, and it is prized both as an ornamental shrub and as a source of the traditional medicine of the region.
The Japanese cornelian cherry belongs to the dogwood family, Cornaceae, and it is a species of flowering plant native to China and Korea as well as Japan, despite its common name. It is known as the Japanese cornelian cherry or the Japanese cornel, and it is prized for its early yellow flowers, its red fruits and its long history in the medicine of the region.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The Japanese cornelian cherry has a genuine and distinguished place in both pharmacological and horticultural research. It has been studied in pharmacology and in the chemistry of the natural products, since the fruits and the other parts of the shrub contain a range of bioactive compounds, and researchers have examined the content of the fruits and the potential uses of their compounds, while the fruits of the shrub have a very long history of use in the traditional medicine of China and Korea, and their chemistry has drawn attention in the international natural-product press as a subject of continuing research. The shrub has also been studied in horticulture, since it is a generous and historic plant of the garden, prized for its early yellow flowers and its glossy red fruits, and researchers have examined its cultivation, its many forms and its value in the garden, while its early spring bloom has drawn attention in the international gardening press as a herald of the season. The species has also been studied in botany, since it is a member of the dogwood family, and its classification and its relationships have been examined. For a shrub of such value, the Japanese cornelian cherry has a rich and distinguished record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, the Japanese cornelian cherry is a generous shrub of the early spring. Its early yellow flowers feed the bees and the insects at a hungry time of the year, and its glossy red fruits feed the birds and the small animals of the autumn, while it is a historic presence in the woodlands and the gardens of the East.
Its economic value is real and historic. The fruits have a very long history of use in the traditional medicine of China and Korea, and their chemistry has drawn attention in the international natural-product press, while the shrub is also a beloved plant of the garden, prized for its early flowers and its red fruits, and its early bloom has drawn attention in the international gardening press. For a grower, the Japanese cornelian cherry is an easy and generous shrub, and for a gardener it brings bright yellow flowers of the early spring and glossy red fruits of the autumn. The seeds need a spell of cold and a little patience — keep them in damp compost in the fridge for about three months, then sow them in a pot of moist, free-draining compost in a sunny or lightly shaded spot, and theyll sprout slowly, growing on into a generous, early-flowering shrub.
Cornus officinalis Also known as: Japanese Cornel Dogwood, Japanese Cornelian Cherry, and Kintoki
Here is an excellent selection providing year round interest with its vibrant flowers and attractive bark. It is a native to China, Japan and Korea. It usually grows as a large, spreading, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub to 15-25’ tall. It also may be trained and grown as a small tree. The new growth flushes as green and glossy then transitions to crimson red in the fall. This dogwood blooms about 2 week sooner than Cornus mas varieties. Beautiful clusters of bright yellow flowers are produced in the spring on multicolored exfoliating bark and are said to make excellent cut flowers. Expect juicy red fruits in the summer, which not only add more valuable color, but are edible too!
Cornelian cherry juices are rich in potassium, calcium, sodium, iron, zinc, manganese, and copper. Compared to other juices obtained from plum, pear, and apple, Cornelian cherry juice contained higher levels of dietary minerals. Cornus berries have a long history of use in a variety of medicinal tonics, including those used to treat excessive urination, incontinence, excessive sweating, excessive menstrual bleeding, decreased erectile function and premature ejaculation. Cornus is also an ingredient in formulas that treat ringing of the ears (tinnitus), poor hearing, blurred vision, dizziness, shock and trauma, and a wide range of other conditions.
Grow in acidic, organically rich, medium moisture, well drained soils in full sun to part shade. Some afternoon shade is appreciated in hot summer climates. Best performance occurs in cool summer climates. Provide consistent moisture and mulch root zone.