Bloomipedia
Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas)
Photo: W Rao via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flowering tree

Cornelian cherry

Cornus mas

Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) is a tree in the Cornaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–April across the U.S.

🌷 Flowering treeIntroduced in the lower 48

Cornelian cherry is a popular flowering tree. It's on our flower lists for 32 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in March–April.

1states where USDA records it
32Bloomipedia state lists include it
1,287U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 23, 2026. Our state lists also include states where people grow it in gardens, so they can outnumber USDA's wild-plant records. Planted garden trees are mostly excluded from research grade.

On our lists for: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Quick look

Cornelian cherry, also known as the European cornel, is a species of shrub or small tree in the dogwood family Cornaceae native to Western Europe, Southern Europe, and Southwestern Asia.

  • It belongs to the Cornaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 1 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In New York, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–April. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 25 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 380 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #115 among the 193 flowers on our New York list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 174 research-grade sightings of it in Illinois, ranking #113 among the 180 flowers on our Illinois list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 152 research-grade sightings of it in Pennsylvania, ranking #121 among the 190 flowers on our Pennsylvania list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (159 records)
Bloom time in the 32 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
New York🌷 GardenMarch–April380
Illinois🌷 Gardenfew records (9)174
Pennsylvania🌷 Gardenfew records (27)152
Ohio🌷 Gardenfew records (10)108
Michigan🌷 Gardenfew records (8)99
Wisconsin🌷 Gardenfew records (2)55
Virginia🌷 Gardenfew records (7)44
Tennessee🌷 Gardenfew records (6)38
Oregon🌷 Gardenfew records (1)35
Missouri🌷 Gardenfew records (3)29
Maryland🌷 Gardenfew records (3)26
North Carolina🌷 Gardenfew records (4)26
New Jersey🌷 Gardenfew records (2)22
Indiana🌷 Gardenfew records (2)18
Massachusetts🌷 Gardenfew records (2)15
Washington🌷 Gardenno flowering records11
Iowa🌷 Gardenfew records (1)10
Delaware🌷 Gardenfew records (1)9
West Virginia🌷 Gardenfew records (3)7
Connecticut🌷 Gardenfew records (3)6
Georgia🌷 Gardenno flowering records6
Kentucky🌷 Gardenfew records (2)6
Maine🌷 Gardenno flowering records3
Nebraska🌷 Gardenno flowering records3
New Hampshire🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Kansas🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
California🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Colorado🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Idaho🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Rhode Island🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Utah🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Vermont🌷 Gardenno flowering records0

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe
Unknown We couldn't find this name in NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 25 of our 32 states.
See each state
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). 6 NYCRR § 193.3
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. IL E&T checklist 2025
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). OAC 1501:18-1-03
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). R 299.1028
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NR 27.03
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). 2VAC5-320-10
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). OAR 603-073-0070
Missouri
Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. 3 CSR 10-4.111
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). COMAR 08.03.08
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). 02 NCAC 48F .0301
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). MESA list
Iowa
Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). IAC 571-77.3
Delaware
Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). DE rare plants 2024
Connecticut
Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). CT E/T/SC list
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). 400 KAR 3:040
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. Maine rare plant list
Nebraska
Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). 163 NAC 4-004
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NH Ncr 312
California
Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). RI rare plants 2016
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). Vermont E&T list
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead.
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead.
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead.
Kansas
No list Kansas's endangered and threatened list (K.A.R. 115-15-1) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's Kansas ranks for plants.
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead.
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead.
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead.

Checked October 23, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “Fruits are edible and may be used to make a tart jelly.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records cornelian cherry in 1 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

New York.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Cornelian cherry a medium shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.0 to 7.5 and winter lows down to -27 °F.

Shade tolerance
Medium
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range
5.0 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
-27 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
130
Annual precipitation range
30 to 50 inches
Minimum root depth
30 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Slow
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Red · Spring to Fall
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for COMA21. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Other Cornus on Bloomipedia (9): Flowering dogwood, Canadian bunchberry, Red osier dogwood, Roughleaf dogwood, Alternate-leaved dogwood, Western bunchberry, Silky dogwood, Kousa dogwood, Swedish cornel.

More New York flowers

Sources