Cornelian Cherry Cornus Mas

Cornelian cherries are small trees, about the size of a crab apple. They are not cherries, but actually members of the dogwood family. They are very tough plants that produce copious amounts of bright red edible berries. The fruits need to be fully ripe to be enjoyed, otherwise they are quite astringent. Once the berries turn dark they are one of the most delicious fruits anywhere. Sometimes we call them red zingers.

Cornelian cherries are widely planted in ornamental landscapes because of how attractive their leaves are, the profusion of yellow flowers in early spring, and the sheer brilliance of the colorful fruit.

Cornelian Cherry require two periods of cold stratification broken up with a period of warm. Seeds have never been dried. They come packed in damp sand. Cold stratify for a couple months, then warm stratify for a month or two (best accomplished by placing bag on top of fridge), and then two more months of cold stratification.