Cornus mas Flava - Cornelian cherry

The Cornus mas 'Flava' is one of the oldest fruit varieties of male dogwood and the most well-known among the selections with yellow fruits. The 'Flava' dogwoods are of medium size (3.3 grams), oval-shaped, and yellow when ripe. They have a fairly mild and slightly sweet flavour. They can be harvested from the end of August through September. This variety has a moderate productivity and only bears fruit after 4 to 5 years of cultivation. This small tree is also appreciated for its early, decorative, and melliferous yellow flowering. The dogwood fruits can be enjoyed raw, dried, or cooked. The male dogwood is a beautiful bush that is easy to grow. It is not afraid of harsh winters, hot summers, or limestone soils! To fulfil its promises, this variety should not lack water too much until early summer.

Native to Europe, the male dogwood is a bush classified as native. Like all Cornus, it belongs to the Cornaceae family. It is a spreading bush that reaches a height between 3 and 5 metres at maturity, with an equal spread. It thrives in sunlight and is not demanding: it grows very well in limestone, ordinary, or even poor soil, but it also tolerates slightly more acidic soils.

Its bright yellow flowers appear in February-March, before the leaves, in the form of numerous small umbels. It is a flowering that is not afraid of frost. Its deciduous leaves are oval, 4 to 10 cm long, and arranged opposite each other on its square-sectioned branches. They are slightly wavy. Its fruiting occurs in late summer, in September, in the form of elongated drupes with variable colours depending on the selections. Edible, they have a more or less acidic or sweet flavour.

In the kitchen:

Male dogwood fruits are naturally rich in vitamin C, minerals, and pectin. They can be eaten raw or similar to goji berries, once dried, or cooked. They can be used in compotes mixed with cranberries and pears to accompany game meat. They can also be frozen. These fruits also yield a delicious syrup with high vitamin content. They have been used for centuries in the preparation of jams, jellies, and compotes. It is usually necessary to add enough sugar.

The Cornus mas is also renowned for its wood: dense and very hard, it was used in the past to make arrows, javelins... but also tool handles or walking sticks.

This is a very easy shrub to use in the garden. It tolerates pruning and can be planted as a free or trimmed hedge, or even as a standalone plant. It easily pairs well with other spring-flowering shrubs, such as Japanese Quince or Korean White Forsythia. Besides its ornamental value, it is also appreciated for its ecological interest: its early flowering feeds the first bees and other pollinators, and its fruits are highly appreciated by birds. The Cornus mas species is protected in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region.