Cornelian Cherry 60/80cm (2L)
Cornus mas
£18.98
Cornelian Cherry, Cornus mas, is a charming deciduous shrub or small tree known for its early spring display of bright yellow flowers on bare branches. It features edible red fruits in late summer, attractive autumn foliage, and mottled bark for winter interest. This versatile plant is ideal for smaller gardens, mixed borders, or as an understory tree, offering year-round interest and valuable resources for wildlife.
- ✓ Early spring display of bright yellow flowers on bare branches
- ✓ Produces edible red fruits in late summer, great for preserves or fresh eating
- ✓ Attractive autumn foliage and mottled bark for year-round interest
- ✓ Versatile and hardy, suitable for various garden styles and soil types
- ✓ Quality UK grown stock from Yarrow Gardens - DEFRA Registered Supplier
Hurry! Only 1 left in stock - Usually dispatched within a few days
Cornelian Cherry, botanically known as Cornus mas, is a captivating deciduous shrub or small tree that brings early spring cheer and year-round interest to gardens and landscapes. Native to southern Europe and western Asia, this member of the dogwood family is prized for its precocious flowering, producing clusters of tiny, bright yellow blossoms on bare branches as early as February, often before many other spring-flowering plants have stirred. These flowers, though small, appear in such profusion that they can transform the plant into a cloud of gold, providing a welcome burst of colour in the late winter garden. Following the flowers, the plant develops glossy, oval leaves that turn purplish-red in autumn, adding to its seasonal appeal. Perhaps most interestingly, in late summer, the Cornelian Cherry produces edible fruit – small, cherry-like drupes that ripen to a bright red and have a tart, slightly sweet flavour.
Cornelian Cherry typically grows to heights of 2.5–4 metres, with a similar spread, forming a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree with a rounded to vase-shaped habit. Its relatively compact size makes it suitable for smaller gardens or as an understory plant in larger landscapes. As the plant matures, its bark becomes attractively mottled, adding winter interest to the garden.
One of the most appealing aspects of Cornus mas is its versatility and hardiness. It’s adaptable to a wide range of soil types and pH levels, and can tolerate both full sun and partial shade. This resilience, combined with its ornamental and practical qualities, makes it a valuable addition to many garden styles.
Gardeners and landscape designers often choose Cornelian Cherry for its multi-season interest and wildlife value. The early spring flowers provide a crucial nectar source for emerging pollinators, while the summer fruits attract birds and can be used in preserves or eaten fresh. Its autumn foliage creates a lovely display, and the winter silhouette, especially of mature specimens, can be quite striking.
Caring for Cornelian Cherry is relatively straightforward. Plant it in a location that receives full sun to partial shade. It prefers well-drained, moderately fertile soil but is adaptable to various soil types and pH levels. Water regularly when first planted to help establish a strong root system. Once established, it has moderate water needs and is somewhat drought-tolerant, though it will appreciate deep watering during prolonged dry spells. Fertilisation is generally not necessary unless the soil is particularly poor. Pruning is minimal – remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches in late winter or early spring. If growing as a tree, you may want to remove lower branches to create a clear stem. This plant is generally resistant to most pests and diseases, making it a low-maintenance option for many gardens. In terms of winter care, Cornelian Cherry is hardy and doesn’t require special protection in most UK climates.
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metres
Time to ultimate height
10–20 years
Ultimate spread
2.5–4 metres
Excellent for insects / pollinators. Plant in full sun for best results.
Very hardy in all UK climates (< -20C)
Supplied about 40/60cm tall, well rooted in a 2 litre pot.
Season of Interest
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Shade
Pot Size
2 litre
Foliage
Deciduous
Foliage Colour
Green
Hardiness
-20°C and below (H7)
When MatureSafety
Child Safe, Pollen Allergies, Pet Safe
Watering
Moderate
Preferred Soil Type
Any well drained soil
Preferred Soil pH
Neutral
Fragrance
Slight
Delivery
Yarrow Gardens aim to have your order with you in fastest time possible and safest method of transport. Dependent on the parcel size and geographical destination in mind with will select the most suitable courier.
You are welcome to collect any times from our nursery in Euxton, Lancashire. Please contact us to arrange a suitable date and time.
With regret, we can no longer send items out to Northern Ireland. All live plants need a phytosanitary checks and DAERA must be notified. This process is simply too expensive at the moment.
Returns
In the rare instance that your item has been damaged during delivery or incorrectly shipped by us, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss the return and replacement of your item.
Once you have contacted us and we have confirmation that your parcel is on its way back to us we will be happy to issue a refund for the return postage.
Delivery Class | Delivery Cost | |
---|---|---|
Royal Mail Letter - Royal Mail Tracked | £3.25 (Flat) | |
Royal Mail Letter - Royal Mail Second Class | £0.95 (Flat) | |
Royal Mail Large Letter - Royal Mail Tracked | £3.25 (Flat) | |
Royal Mail Large Letter - Royal Mail Second Class | £2.10 (Flat) | |
Standard Items - Standard Courier (Parcelforce) | £7.95 (Flat) | This item |
Standard Items - Standard Courier (Evri) | £4.49 (Flat) | This item |
Medium Items - Standard Courier (Parcelforce) | £7.95 (Flat) | |
Large Items - Pallet Courier | £90.00 (Flat) | |
Large Items - Standard Courier (Parcelforce) | £28.95 (Flat) | |
Large Items - Standard Courier (Parcel Force) | £24.95 (Flat) | |
Pallet Courier - Pallet Courier | £90.00 (Flat) |
We are a small family business based in Euxton, West Lancashire. We specialise in the supply of trees, shrubs both bare root & cell grown. Much of our stock is grown directly on site from seed or cuttings. Other stock is all UK sourced where possible.
We adhere to industry leading biosecurity measures, this ensures that our nursery remains clean and disease free.
We are DEFRA registered and our nursery is regularly inspected to confirm compliance with all current plant and plant health regulations.
Our Plant Passport Registration Number is GB140010
You can view our Plant Healthy report here.
We are actively working towards the Grown in Britain certification along with the Plant Healthy certification.
Should you have any concern or question in respect of our plant health matters, please get in touch.