Cornelian Cherry
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Cornelian Cherry - #3 Container 2-3 Feet Multi Stem is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.
This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping
To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.
Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.
Standard Shipping Rates
At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.
From | To | S&H |
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$0 | $19.99 | $24.99 |
$20 | $49.99 | $29.99 |
$50 | $69.99 | $34.99 |
$70 | $99.99 | $39.99 |
$100 | $129.99 | $44.99 |
$130 | $149.99 | $48.99 |
$150 | $150+ | Approx 28% |
Click here to see our full rates
Buying Options for Plants
Nature Hills sells a large variety of plants with several options available. Plants are offered in both potted containers and as dormant bare root without soil. Here is a helpful resource to understand your options as you create a beautiful landscape with help from Nature Hills.
Ever wonder what a larger plant will mean for your landscape? Container Sizes are really all about the age of the plant!
Seasonally, Nature Hills offers hand selected, high quality bare root trees, shrubs and perennials. Bare root plants are sold by height from the top of the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may be taller than the height minimums.
- Popular sizes of select trees are 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, etc.
- Popular sizes of select bare root plants is 1 foot, 18 inches, etc.
Nature Hills Container Size by Volume
Keep in mind, specific varieties and different growing conditions can affect the rate at which plants grow. Variations in size may occur.
Young Plants to 18 Months | ||
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Size | Volume | |
2"x2"x3" | Ranges from | .18 to .21 dry quarts / .198 to .23 dry liters in volume |
4.5" Container | Equal to | .65 dry quart / .72 dry liter in volume |
Sprinter Pot | Equal to | .63 dry quart / .69 dry liter in volume |
4" Container | Ranges from | .31 to .87 / .35 to .96 dry liter in volume |
6" Container | Equal to | 1.4 dry quarts / 1.59 dry liters in volume |
1 Quart | Equal to | 1 dry quart / 1.1 dry liter in volume |
5.5" Container | Equal to | 1.89 of a dry quart / 2.08 dry liters in volume |
4"x4"x5" | Ranges from | .8 to 1.1 dry quarts / .88 to 1.2 dry liters in volume |
4"x4"x6" | Ranges from | 1.0 to 1.3 dry quarts / 1.1 to 1.41 dry liters in volume |
4"x4"x9" | Ranges from | 1.1 to 2.1 dry quarts / 1.2 to 2.3 dry liters in volume |
4"x4"x10" | Ranges from | 1.7 to 2.3 dry quart / 1.87 to 2.53 dry liters in volume |
Plants 18 Months - 2.5 Years Old | ||
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Size | Volume | |
2 Quart | Equal to | 2 dry quarts / 2.2 dry liters in volume |
#1 Container | Ranges from | 2.26 to 3.73 dry quarts / 2.49 to 4.11 dry liters in volume |
5"x5"x12" | Equal to | 3.5 to 4.3 dry quarts / 3.85 to 4.74 dry liters in volume |
Plants 2 - 4 Years Old | ||
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Size | Volume | |
#2 Container | Ranges from | 1.19 to 1.76 dry gallons / 5.24 to 7.75 dry liters in volume |
#3 Container | Ranges from | 2.32 to 2.76 dry gallons / 10.22 to 12.16 dry liters in volume |
Plants 3 - 5 Years Old | ||
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Size | Volume | |
#5 Container | Ranges from | 2.92 to 4.62 dry gallons / 12.86 to 20.35 dry liters in volume |
#6 Container | Ranges from | 5.25 to 6.01 dry gallons / 23.12 to 26.42 dry liters in volume |
#7 Container | Ranges from | 5.98 to 6.08 dry gallons / 26.34 to 26.78 dry liters in volume |
Plant Highlights
Cornelian Cherry highlights at a glance!
Plant Highlights
Plant Highlights
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun, Partial Shade
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateMedium
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Flower Color
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Pollinator Friendly
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodEarly Spring
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Harvest Time

Growing Zones
Cornelian Cherry: Hardy, Early-Blooming Dogwood
The Cornelian Cherry or Cornealian Dogwood (Cornus mas) is a lesser-known gem in the Dogwood family, celebrated for its cheerful early yellow blooms, edible fruits, and hardiness! This deciduous large shrub or small tree blooms in late winter (in warm climates) to very early spring—often before anything else in the garden even wakes up. Its petite golden blossoms arrive in clusters before leaves appear, lighting up the landscape with sunshine-colored confetti!
Though not fragrant, it’s beloved by early pollinators and offers a bonus in late summer: tart, bright red fruits that resemble olives and are perfect for jams and preserves. Fruits appear in July to September and can persist into autumn if birds don’t nab them first! They're rich in vitamin C and loved in Eastern European cuisines.
Leaves are opposite, egg-shaped, dark green, and turn shades of maroon to purplish-red in the fall! Forming an upright, rounded shape, the Cornelian Cherry typically grows 15-25 feet tall and about 12-20 feet wide. It has a multi-stemmed branching that extends to the ground unless pruned into tree form, exposing the lower trunk. The bark exfoliates into mosaic-like patches on older plants—lovely in the winter garden!
>>Jump to Planting & Care Instructions
Key Features
- Blooms in late winter to early spring before leaves emerge
- Self-fruitful - Edible red fruits in late summer; great for preserves
- Grows as a multi-stemmed shrub or can be pruned into a small tree
- Attractive exfoliating bark on mature specimens
- Excellent cold hardiness and disease resistance
Supports early-season pollinators - Tolerates clay and urban conditions
Landscaping Uses
Native to central and southern Europe and western Asia, Cornus mas has been cultivated since ancient times, especially in the Balkans, where it’s prized both ornamentally and medicinally. A close cousin to our native Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), this species is tougher and blooms much earlier.
Use this rugged yet refined plant as a small ornamental tree or large screening shrub. It thrives in USDA Zones 4–8, tolerates urban conditions and clay soils, and can adapt to drought or high humidity once established. This old-world charmer is as practical as it is pretty!
- Hedge or screen with seasonal interest and wildlife appeal
- Small multi-purpose ornamental tree for front yards
- Specimen tree in mixed borders
- Early-season pollinator support in edible landscapes
- Fruit tree hedgerows, edible landscaping, or permaculture orchards
- Urban gardens that require especially resilient trees due to pollution
- Wildlife gardens (birds love the fruit)
Care and Maintenance
This deciduous small tree or large shrub is exceptionally durable—cold-hardy, sun-loving, and adaptable to varied soils.
- Planting Time: Best planted in spring or fall
- Sun Needs: Full sun to part shade
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Soil Needs: Prefers well-drained soil; tolerates clay, rocky, and urban soils
Moisture Needs: Moderate water; drought-tolerant once established - Mulch: 3–4 inch layer of bark mulch or arborist chips; compost enriches soil
- Fertilization Needs: Light feeding in early spring; compost or balanced slow-release fertilizer
- Pruning Info: Blooms on old wood; prune after flowering if shaping is needed
- Renewal Pruning: Optional; can rejuvenate old shrubs over several seasons
- Special Needs/Perks:
- Deer and rabbit-resistant
- Urban environment-tolerant
- Handles compacted soil and light salinity
- Chill Hours: Roughly 800–1,000 hours if growing for fruit
Pollination Needs: Self-fertile but produces more fruit when cross-pollinated with another Cornus mas.
Cherry-Pick This Underrated Dogwood Delight
The Cornelian Cherry Tree or shrub brings bold color when you need it most—late winter into spring—and rewards again with edible summer fruits and fiery fall foliage. Hardy, handsome, and hassle-free, it’s a year-round performer with old-world charm.
Order now at Nature Hills Nursery, and we’ll ship at the proper planting time for your region!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cornelian Cherry Dogwood deer resistant?
Yes! Deer tend to leave it alone, making it a great choice for woodland edge plantings.
When does the Cornelian Cherry Dogwood bloom?
It blooms in late winter to very early spring, often February to March, depending on your region.
Can you eat Cornelian Cherry Dogwood fruit?
Yes! The red fruits are edible and high in vitamin C. They're tart when raw but great in jams, syrups, or dried like cranberries.
How fast does Cornus mas grow?
It’s a moderate grower—expect about 12–18 inches of growth per year once established in optimal conditions.
Does Cornus mas need a pollinator?
It is self-fertile, but planting more than one will improve fruit production.
How is Cornelian Cherry Dogwood different from American Dogwood?
It blooms earlier, is more tolerant of tough soils and climates, and produces edible fruit. Its flowers are smaller but more numerous and yellow instead of white or pink.
Is Cornelian Cherry Dogwood good for wildlife?
Absolutely. Birds adore the fruit, and the early flowers are an important nectar source for bees.
How do I prune a Cornelian Cherry Dogwood into a tree form?
Select a central leader early and prune away lower branches annually until a tree shape is formed.
Why Order From Nature Hills Nursery?
Nature Hills Nursery is committed to bringing the highest-quality plants to your door. Join thousands of happy customers and get all your planting needs at Nature Hills! We guarantee our plants for their first year! Check out lifelong support and landscaping ideas in our #ProPlantTips Garden Blog and online at customer-support.naturehills.com!