Japanese cornel | The Morton Arboretum

Family (English) Dogwood
Family (botanic) Cornaceae
Planting site City parkway, Residential and parks, Under utility lines, Wide median
Tree or plant type Tree, Shrub
Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
Native locale Non-native
Size range Small tree (15-25 feet)
Mature height 20 25 feet
Mature width 15-20 feet
Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
Hardiness zones Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8
Soil preference Acid soil, Moist, well-drained soil
Tolerances Alkaline soil
Season of interest early spring, mid spring, late summer, early fall
Flower color and fragrance Yellow
Shape or form Multi-stemmed, Open
Growth rate Slow
Transplants well No
Planting considerations May be difficult to find in nurseries
Wildlife Birds
Has cultivars Yes

Native geographic location and habitat:

Japanese cornel is native to Japan and Korea.

Bark color and texture:

The bark is a mottled mix of gray, brown, and orange.

Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture:

The leaves are opposite, simple, oval to elliptical, and entire, with distinct veins. They are 2 1/2 to 5 inches long, dark green above, and lighter below. Fall color varies from yellow to red.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size:

Small 1/8 inch yellow flowers in tight 1 inch wide clusters are very numerous, appearing before the leaves in early spring. One of the first trees to flower in spring.