Also, you can compare the size of the berries and the shape of the cymes. It is rated for zone 6. These three species are wonderful additions to the shade garden or rockery. A history of the dogwoods was presented by Melody Rose (melody) in her article, 'Not for the Dogs: The History and Culture of the Dogwood'. It turns raspberry red as it ripens. Back to the top The silky dogwoods, C. amomum (zone 5), C. obliqua (zone 4) and C. drummondii (zone 4) are somewhat similar to the grey and swamp dogwoods producing white, flat-topped clusters of blooms followed by white (C. amomum and C. drummondii) or blue berries (C. obliqua). The flowers' are not unlike those of the flowering-dogwoods except they are distinctly cream-coloured. Grow in average, medium to wet, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. The spot we go to forage our Kousa dogwood fruit has trees growing in full sun and in part-full shade, so The fall leaves are dark reddish purple, and while the color is interesting, you wouldnt call it attractive. There are two variegated selections; Argentea' (white edged) and Golden Shadows' (yellow edged). The creamy flower clusters to around 2 inches wide bloom in late May to early June. Filet Steak (8oz) 2pk Certified Sterling No Hook, Flat Iron Steak (8oz) 2pk Certified Sterling, Heirloom Cherry Mixed - JK Thille Ranches, Dairy Yogurt Whole Milk Vanilla Organic Straus, Groc Container Lids Deli Clear (Polypropylene), Copyright 1996-2020, Specialty Produce, All Rights Reserved | 1929 Hancock St., Suite 150, San Diego, CA 92110 | 800.221.9730 |, Foraging for Kousa Dogwood Berries and Muffin. The foliage is dark green with greyish undersides. This plant is also called Bunchberry Dogwood, Dwarf Dogwood, Canadian Bunchberry, Dogwood Bunchberry, Pudding Berry, Crackerberry, Creeping Dogwood, and Produces a bright red berry in the autumn which is edible to humans and wildlife. One of the few edible woody dogwoods is the Cornelian cherry, C. mas. The most popular form of C. controversa is the cultivar 'Variegata'. There have been several articles on Dave's Garden dealing with dogwoods or the genus Cornus. Perhaps the most popular of these is C. capitata commonly called the Himalayan Strawberry Tree. Is your market carrying green dragon Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the Davesgarden.com Terms of Use, Rules, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy. this world? It says "Fruit has high amounts of calcium excellent for good skeletal growth in The former species (hardy to zone 6) has red fruit while the latter (hardy to zone 8) has black fruit. The skin of the fruit is green/yellow when unripe. The following people must be thanked for the use of their pictures. Some nonnative dogwoods produce fruits that are edible for humans. Without them, this article would be pretty black and white! Smooth twigs are tan to red-brown, pith white to brown, and stems with smooth, gray bark. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the Davesgarden.com, Hardy Deciduous Shrubs for Colorful Foliage: Part 3 - Variegated Foliage, Red-twig Dogwoods: a Shrub for All Seasons, Not for the Dogs: The History and Culture of the Dogwood', 'Red-twig Dogwoods - A Shrub for All Seasons', 'Adding Some Year-round Interest in the Garden with Red Twig Dogwood', Garden Jokes and Humor: Sunday Funnies 12-06-2020. It also yields an oil that is both edible and good for burning. The white winter berries only last a short time and dont add much to the appearance of the shrub. The red berries of this species are used for commercial cranberry production and in making sauces and jellies. Cornus Kousa Fruit is Edible | The Kousa Dogwood The fruit is about the size of a quarter in diameter and looks like an over-sized raspberry in both shape and color. (Editor's Note: This article was originally published on July 25, 2009. Also known as northern swamp dogwood, gray dogwood is a deciduous shrub that forms thickets as the underground rhizomes spread. This European species forms a large shrub or small tree to 5 m. Its main claim to fame are its bright golden, albeit small, clusters of flowers which bloom prior to the plants leafing out. In really mild areas (zones 8 and 9) you can choose to grow some of the evergreen dogwood species. None are suitable for dry conditions. They bloom at the tail end of the Chinese witch-hazel blooming season. A field guide to wild berries & fruits of Sharingwood There are 23 species of native plants, mostly shrubs, which produce a berry or berry-like fruit. In late summer, quite large cherry-like fruit form which can be made into jams and preserves. These primarily hail from the Himalayas. I do write about poisonous plants. I decided not to include the obvious blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, but this guide will assist you in identifying which wild berries are, in fact, poisonous. To herbalists, however, it is distinguished for its bright and edible dogwood fruit, commonly referred to as Kousa berries, cornus fruit and asiatic cornelian cherry. In the Dogwood family, Tupelos are also found in Mexico, China and Malaysia. I am one of the founding members of the Newfoundland Wildflower Society and the current chair of the Newfoundland Rock Garden Society. Silky dogwood often has about half its canopy of flowers, so still not like the flowering dogwood. This species is disease resistant and can be maintained as a shrub. Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of Tolerates close to full shade. Media Kit | The white fruit is borne in August-September and is loved by over 100 species of birds. Cornus is a genus of about 3060 species of woody plants in the family Cornaceae, commonly known as dogwoods, which can generally be distinguished by their blossoms, berries, and distinctive bark. The cultivar Variegata' has striking creamy-white leaf margins. There were plenty of spice bush shrubs in the swamp area there, but I could not spot any of the berries on a shrub. Birds, on the other hand, swallow the entire berry and the seed is undamaged. The seeds have been destroyed, the "meat" was virtually untouched. They actually prefer a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade. This is my second Christmas with my poinsettia, which read more, They look to prefer evergreens. I work as a research horticulturist at the Memorial University of Newfoundland Botanical Garden. DO NOT eat a berry if you cannot identify it. The risk of GI problems is pretty high, particularly when they are given in high amounts. Together with the witch-hazels, star-magnolia and the February daphne, they are the woody' harbingers of spring. bootandall (C. capitata fruit), GardenGuyKin (C. mas fruit), growin (C. controversa and C. alternifolia 'Argentea'), Jeff_Beck (C. drummondii), kennedyh (C. capitata), linjasar (C. alternifola 'Golden Shadows'), OhioBreezy (C. alternifolia) and plantaholic (C. mas 'Variegata'), Read articles about: Cornus, Ornamental Trees And Shrubs. Branches that touch the ground may root at the nodes. With a big feeder read more, This Christmas Tree comes with a pre-installed cat read more. Northern Swamp dogwood 15 feet (4.5 m.) tall, USDA 4 to 8; Rough Leaf dogwood 15 feet (4.5 m.) tall, USDA 4 to 9; Stiff dogwood 25 feet (7.6 m.) tall, USDA 4 to 9; Canadian bunchberry, common dogwood, Red Osier dogwood and the Yellow and Red twig varieties are all small to medium sized shrubs that are hardy in zone 4. Details of the 'bunchberries': on the left is a side-by-side coparison of C. suecica and C. canadensis, followed by the fruit of C. suecica and the fruit of C. canadensis. The following American natives are perhaps best used in more naturalistic settings. There are good books written on edible plants. I would start by checking other features besides the berries. In milder areas there are two Cornelian cherry look-alikes you could grow; C. officinalis and C. chinensis. These Dogwood berries have been eaten by a squirrel. As can be seen from the various articles devoted to dogwoods, this genus exhibits wonderful variation and allows some species to be useful in just about any garden situation (except the xeric garden). Both produce yellow flowers before the trees leaf. Flowers eventually in September become small blue berries, still in clusters. are around them. There are several other named cultivars which are based primarily on fruit size. Berries are technically edible, but don't taste very good. American dogwood bark is still used today as medicine, but not very often. Prefers moist, organically rich, slightly acidic soils in part shade. The true flowers are greenish to cream on C. canadensis while they are purple on the other two. About | Contact Us | The flat-topped clusters of creamy-white flowers are followed by blue-black fruit. Weve been away from the blog for a bit. Native Americans apparently prepared a tobacco substitute from strips of the bark of several species under the name kinnikinnick. One of the few edible woody dogwoods is the Cornelian cherry, C. mas. Hi Val- sorry for the delay! 1/29/2018 I happened upon a few red berries at Pruyn Sanctuary in Westchester County. Gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa) is rangy and even a little scraggly, with suckers springing up all around it. There are two Chinese deciduous dogwoods of note. Dogwood berries are in toxicity class III category, meaning, they are slightly toxic for dogs and cats. The best way to stay safe when looking for berries is keeping a berry guide, like Cornus racemosa, the northern swamp dogwood, gray dogwood or panicle dogwood, is a shrubby plant native to southeastern Canada and the northeastern United States. Kousa Dogwood berries are primarily eaten fresh, out-of-hand. apples? Featured Companies | Cornus elliptica is hardy to zone 7 and looks very much like an evergreen form of C. kousa with large, white bracts. Outdoors I grow mostly alpines, bulbs and ericaceous shrubs. The flowering is modest and the white fruit can be prolific at times. Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Your comments are welcome, but please be aware that authors of previously published articles may not be able to promptly respond to new questions or comments.). I reside in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. There is no doubt that the genus Cornus is an important group of plants for gardeners in temperate regions. Fruit: Showy Edible to birds Other: 1/4 inch blue, fleshy drupes, each containing 2 large seeds. Benefits from a 2-4 mulch which will help keep roots cool and moist in summer. The berries had no flaws, so I doubt a bird carried them. It is a member of the dogwood genus Cornus and the family Cornaceae . The following descriptions of different dogwoods are confusing: Cornus obliqua, Swamp Dogwood "Swamp Dogwood is one of the blue-fruited species of its genus. Kousa dogwood has showy, 1/2- to 1-inch-long fleshy pink to red fruits that somewhat resemble raspberries. Indoors, my passion is orchids. Its sibling, the Water Tupelo is likewise edible as is the Ogeechee Lime, another Tupelo. Their berries are edible but rather tasteless. Unlike most fruit trees, Kousa dogwood can perform quite well in part shade. Fall colour is quite attractive, adding to the value of this hardy (zone 4) plant. The previous two species are commonly found as forest-floor wildflowers while the latter prefers open coastal regions. They have pits, along with a non all Though, your pet unknowingly ingesting a few berries is unlikely to fall ill. My garden is quite small but I pack it tight! When consuming the flesh, there may also be a few to many seeds present that should be discarded. Mission | Details of C. mas; the last photo shows the cultivar 'Variegata'. Many are edible and choice, some are not edible which means they taste bad, are mostly seed, or for some reason people don't eat them. Often found in flooded sites in the southeastern U.S. the fruit is very sour and has been used as a lime substitute. The red-osier or red-twig dogwoods were covered in two articles, 'Red-twig Dogwoods - A Shrub for All Seasons', which I wrote; and 'Adding Some Year-round Interest in the Garden with Red Twig Dogwood' by Darius Van d'Rhys. It grows 326 feet (18 meters) high and produces edible fruit known as saskatoon berries. To complete the picture on the genus, I thought I would describe some of the other garden-worthy dogwoods that exist. The pulp of its fruit is technically edible, extremely sour and extremely bitter, which is why it is usually used in sweetened preserves. They ripen in late summer and early fall, and are of ornamental value. A Chilian species has edible berries, with which a drink called Theca is prepared. In the wild, this species may reach 15 m but in the garden, generally grow as a large shrub. There have been several articles on DG devoted to dogwoods; red-osier varieties and flowering dogwood have been covered before. Silk Dogwood is also known as Silky Cornel and Swamp Dogwood. Each stem produces a single cluster of tiny flowers surrounded by four large white bracts. 2020 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands This article will 'clean-up' the story of dogwoods by describing some of the miscellaneous or less well known types. I acquired this based on the description in the Oikos catalog. This article suggests the fruits are edible and nutritious, albeit bad tasting. The cultivar Aurea' has yellow foliage, 'Variegata' has white-edged leaves and Elegantissima' has leaves edged in yellow and pink. Hopefully these articles will inspire you to try some of the dogwoods in your own garden. 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