Cornelian Cherry Cornus mas Redstone

Detailed Listing For
Botanical Name:

Cornus mas Redstone

Family:

Cornaceae

Genus:

Cornus

Species:

mas

Subspecies:

Redstone

Common Name:

Cornelian Cherry

Height:
15-40 feet
Minimum Hardiness Zone:
5
A variety great for heavy fruit crops to make syrups/preserves, showy spring flowers and fabulous red fall color!

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  • Cornus mas Redstone

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Growing Info, follow in order:
Scarification: Soak in water, let stand in water for 24 hours.
Stratification: warm stratify for 180 days, cold stratify for 90 days.
Germination: sow seed 3/8" deep, tamp the soil, mulch the seed bed.
Other: Sporadic germination will occur over a 2-3 year period.
In a Nutshell:
* It is a medium to large deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 5–12 m tall, with dark brown branches and greenish twigs. The leaves are opposite, 4–10 cm long and 2–4 cm broad, with an ovate to oblong shape and an entire margin. The flowers are small (5–10 mm diameter), with four yellow petals, produced in clusters of 10–25 together in the late winter, well before the leaves appear. The fruit is an oblong red drupe 2 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter, containing a single seed. more...
* The species is also grown as an ornamental plant for its late winter flowers, which open earlier than those of forsythia, and, while not as large and vibrant as those of the forsythia, the entire plant can be used for a similar effect in the landscape.
* Popular for its yellow flowers in early spring and its gray and brown exfoliating bark, attractive rounded habit, edible red fruit, Dirr calls it "an excellent small tree" and recommends it for the Midwest U.S.
* The fruit is eaten raw, dried or used in preserves. Juicy, with a nice acid flavour. The fully ripe fruit has a somewhat plum-like flavour and texture and is very nice eating, but the unripe fruit is rather astringent. more...
* The wood of C. mas is extremely dense, and unlike the wood of most other woody plant species, sinks in water. This density makes it valuable for crafting into tool handles, parts for machines, etc. Cornus mas was used from the seventh century BC onward by Greek craftsmen to construct spears, javelins and bows, the craftsmen considering it far superior to any other wood. more...