Cornus, 'Elegant' cornelian cherry

Cornus mas 'Elegant'

'Elegant' bears heavy crops of striking, dark red, pear-shaped fruit. Sweet and delicious, fruit ripens in late August and is particularly nice for fresh eating. Rated one of the top cultivars by cornelian cherry expert Svitlana Klimenko of the National Botanical Gardens of the Ukraine. This cultivar is a natural dwarf, growing to only 5.5' tall and wide.

The fruit of this dogwood species has been enjoyed by humans for millennia. A particular favorite of the ancient Greeks, it was widely planted in medieval monastery gardens throughout Europe. Today, it is still grown commercially in Turkey.

Cherry-like fruits ripen in the late summer and early fall. Good for fresh eating as well as dried or made into preserves. Cornus mas is highly ornamental in the early spring, with the entire tree covered in a profusion of small yellow blossoms.

Size at maturity: This cultivar is a dwarf, growing to only about 5.5' tall and wide. 

Site Selection: Ideally full-sun location, but will also grow and fruit in dappled sun locations. Adaptable to a range or soil types provided the planting location is well drained. Prefers a pH of around 6.5.

Cultivation: Self-fertile trees require little attention once established, though better fruit set is accomplished with two different cultivars. Cornus mas can be trained as a small standard tree or as a multi-stemmed shrub. For a mature tree it is only necessary to prune out dead, broken or crossed branches.

Zone hardiness, Pests, & Diseases: Hardy to USDA zone 5-7. Pest and disease free. Birds and critters will compete with humans for the harvest.

Plant size: 2' tall tree.

When we ship:  FALL 2023/SPRING 2024.