Cornus mas Aurea - European Cornel

Cornus mas 'Aurea' is a medium-sized bush that brightens up any shady corner of the garden thanks to its bright golden foliage. Its winter, lemon-yellow flowers, bright red berries in September, and magnificent autumn colours in shades of yellow-orange, offer a dazzling spectacle for many months. Not demanding in terms of soil type, highly resistant to diseases, and low maintenance, the golden Cornelian cherry is an easy-going shrub that will find a place in any garden!

The Cornus mas 'Aurea' stands out from other Cornelian cherries by the colour of its foliage. Golden yellow in spring, it turns yellow-green in summer and ends with a flamboyant note in autumn, in shades of yellow-purple. Its vibrant colours are further enhanced by the young purplish branches. This Cornelian cherry will elegantly illuminate a shaded garden corner or a group of dark-foliaged shrubs. With its spreading habit, erect stems and remarkably round and dense crown, the Cornus mas 'Aurea' naturally exudes grace. This highly branched bush reaches a mature size of 5 to 6m (16 ft 5 in to 19 ft 8 in) with an equivalent spread.

In early September, the Cornus mas 'Aurea' is covered with a myriad of bright red fruits with a diameter of about 2cm. The contrast with the yellow foliage is striking! The cornelian cherries of the 'Aurea' cultivar are edible, although very acidic. They can be enjoyed as marmalade, fruit juice, or even liqueur. They are highly attractive to birds, making this shrub useful in wildlife gardens.

The Cornus mas 'Aurea' enjoys sunny locations but also tolerates shaded spaces, which it illuminates with its vibrant colours. It tolerates all types of soils, even poor and dry ones. It prefers limestone and well-draining soils, sheltered from excessive moisture. Very hardy (tolerates frost down to -20°C (-4 °F)) and resistant to drought, the Cornus mas thrives in all regions. Its resistance to wind and diseases makes it a pleasant bush to grow and easy to establish, regardless of the exposure. Pruning is not obligatory but recommended for this cultivar. Pruning the branches at the end of winter, after flowering, promotes the growth of colourful young branches and maintains a dense and harmonious foliage. Cornelian cherries tolerate severe pruning and make excellent hedge shrubs.

The characteristic bright yellow foliage of the Cornus mas 'Aurea' is very interesting in the background of a border to brighten up a group of dark-foliaged plants like 'Black Lace' Elderberry or 'Physocarpus Midnight'. It will also be enhanced by dark pink or purple flowering plants such as Escallonia or Leptospermum. In a small garden, it will look good planted in isolation, in the middle of a short grass meadow or in a rockery. It can also be used as a hedge alongside various shrubs, such as 'crevette' Willow or 'Dart's Gold' Physocarpus opulifolius, for a harmonious diversity of foliage. Its slow growth and medium size make it suitable for container planting on a terrace, where it will animate for many months with its delicate flowering, luminous foliage, and colourful berries.