Tree · Cornaceae family
Cornelian cherry
Cornus mas
In short a 10-second read
Cornelian cherry (tree) grows to 4–6 m tall and 4–6 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in dry to average soil. It flowers in March; the flowers are yellow. Hardy to −29 °C.
× spread 4–6 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in dry to average soil. Hardy to −29 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
dry to average · watering: moderate
Soil: loamy, clay, gravelly
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 10–20 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
March · yellow
Pruning
No pruning needed — just remove dead or damaged parts.
Planting
container plant: October–April; bare-root: October–March; root-balled: October–March
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −29 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −29 °C
- Deciduous — bare in winter
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does Cornelian cherry flower?
In March; the flowers are yellow.
Does Cornelian cherry tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does Cornelian cherry need?
At maturity 4–6 m wide and 4–6 m tall; recommended spacing 400 cm.
Does Cornelian cherry survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −29 °C.
Where the data comes from
The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 17 October 2026.
Show sources (17)
- GBIF — Cornus mas
- Okrasná školka Peňáz, Bošovice (CZ) — sortiment stromov
- rastlinky.sk — blog e-shopu „Okrasné stromy do malej záhrady“
- NC State Extension
- Van den Berk
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (species/match)
- Wikipedia (EN)
- RHS — Cornus mas
- RHS - Watering
- RHS - Cornus mas
- RHS - Shrubs and trees: light pruning
- RHS - Trees and shrubs: planting
- Clemson HGIC - Planting Trees Correctly
- RHS - How to grow trees
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: Slovakia, Czechia, Germany
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