Cornus mas Pancharevo - European Cornel

Cornus mas 'Pancharevo' is a Bulgarian variety of male dogwood selected for its productivity. The tree, of medium stature (4 m in height), produces very large berries from mid August. They are oval with an average weight of 6 to 7 g (sometimes up to 15 g), and measure up to 3.5 cm in length. Their shiny skin is dark reddish-brown at full ripeness. Their flesh is sour-sweet in taste and cannot be consumed immediately after picking. After a few days, once softened, it loses its sour taste. 'Pancharevo' fruits are perfect for making jellies, jams, syrups...

The cornelian cherry doesn't mind harsh winters, hot summers, or chalky soils! To fulfill its potemtial, this variety should not lack water before early summer.

Cornus mas is native to Europe. Like all Cornus, it belongs to the Cornaceae family. It is a spreading shrub that reaches 3 to 5 metres high at maturity, with an equal width. It thrives in sunlight and is not demanding: it grows very well in calcareous soil, ordinary, or even poor, 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 which are not damaged by frost. Its deciduous leaves are ovate, 4 to 10 cm long, and arranged opposite each other on its square-sectioned branches. They are slightly wavy. The foliage takes on beautiful yellow, orange, or red tones before falling in autumn. Fruiting occurs in late summer, earlier or later depending on the variety, in the form of a drupe of variable colour, size, and shape. They are edible, with a more or less acidic or sweet taste.

In the kitchen:

Cornels are naturally rich in vitamin C, minerals, and pectin. They can be consumed raw or dried, similar to goji berries, but they can also be cooked. They are used in compotes mixed with cranberries and pears to accompany game. They can be frozen. These fruits also give a delicious syrup with a high vitamin content. They have been used for centuries to prepare jams, jellies, and compotes. It is usually necessary to add sugar.

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

It is a very easy shrub to use in the garden. Tolerating pruning, it can be planted as a free or trimmed hedge, or even as a standalone plant. It easily pairs with other spring-flowering shrubs such as Japanese Quinces or Korean White Forsythia. It is ornamental, and also appreciated for its ecological interest: its early flowering provides food for the first bees and other pollinators, and its fruits are loved by birds.