In his 1914 publication, The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, horticultural rockstar Liberty Hyde Bailey explains that dogwood trees get their common name because a medicinal extract from their leaves was used in England to wash mangy dogs.This hard wood was valued greatly by the Greeks, and it is said they used Cornelian cherry wood to make javelins and spearheads.The genera name, Cornus, is derived from the Latin word for horn, referring to the very hard wood of the dogwood.

To provide some historical context to our Plant of the Month, here are some interesting facts:.Its yellow flowers appear in early spring. Pour into sterile jars and seal (or consume right away to save that trouble). Related Images: cornus mas tree nature spring blossom beautiful branch flowers flower. The cornelian cherry dogwood is a deciduous shrub or small tree that can grow up to 25 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Periodically skim off the foam that comes to the surface of the mixture. Stir in the fruit and simmer for an additional 30 minutes, or until the syrup has thickened. In a large pot, bring the sugar and water to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Leaves opposite, simple, ovate to elliptic, 5-10 cm long, 3-5 pairs of veins, dark green above. The jam tastes great on top of a good, crusty bread…just watch out for the pits and make sure the berries are fully ripe when picked. Deciduous multistemed shrub or small tree, 20-25 ft ( 6-8m) high, spreading to 15 ft (4.5 m), oval-round outline, slender stems. An even tastier way to consume Cornelian cherry fruit is to turn it into a jam. While some people might find them unpalatable, I enjoy eating the berries straight off the tree they remind me of the sweet-tart flavor of cranberries. As much as I enjoy the flowers of Cornus mas, my favorite aspect of the plant is the deeply red drupe-like berries it produces in the summer.This way, its bright yellow color will pop! Cultivated as a shrub, the Cornelian cherry develops an expansive habit that almost corresponds to its height of growth. To best highlight the bright color of Cornus mas flower clusters, I recommend selecting a planting site near a dark-colored background, such as a building or dense conifer.Instead, I’d like to share a few added tidbits about this plant that is currently showing its colors at the Scott Arboretum: Becky Robert, our Member and Visitor Programs Coordinator, wrote an informative article on Cornus masfor our blog last week, so I won’t reinvent the wheel here. March’s pick for Plant of the Month is one of my favorite early blooming trees, Cornus mas, or the Cornelian cherry dogwood.