Cornus kousa
Cornus kousa is a broadly conical, deciduous tree with flaking
bark and ovate, wavy-margined, dark-green leaves to 8cm long.
In Autumn, leaves turn a deep crimson-purple colour. In early
Summer, green flowers are produced in flowerheads to 1cm across,
surrounded by 4 white bracts around 2-5cm long. Flowers are
followed by strawberry-like, fleshy red fruit. Native to Korea
and Japan where heights of 7metres are often reached. There
are a number of Cornus kousa varieties that carry differing
coloured bracts.
Cornus mas/ Cornelian
Cherry
Cornus mas is a vigorous, spreading, deciduous shrub or small
tree with ovate, dark-green leaves to 10cm long, turning red-purple
in Autumn. Yellow flowers are produced in small umbels to
2cm across, in late Winter before the leaves appear. Oblong,
fleshy, bright red fruit are produced in late Summer and are
edible when ripe. Native to Europe and west Asia where heights
of 5metres are normally reached. Cornus mas 'Aurea' has yellow,
juvenile leaves, maturing to mid-green. C.m. '(Aureo) Elegantissima'
has leaves margined with pink and yellow.
Cornus
officinalis
Cornus officinalis is a vigorous, spreading shrub with rough,
flaking brown bark and ovate dark-green leaves to 10cm long,
turning red-purple in Autumn. Yellow flowers are produced
in loose umbels, 2cm across in late-Winter before the leaves
open. They are followed by edible, bright red fruit. Native
to China, Korea and Japan where heights of 5metres with a
5metre spread are normally reached.
