The Japanese cornelian dogwood is a deciduous large shrub or small tree native to north-central and southeastern China. It has been introduced in Japan and Korea. It is typically found in forests, forest margins, and mountain slopes. It is a member of the dogwood family (Cornaceae). The species epithet, officinalis , means "sold in shops or offices." This name references the plant's traditional use as a medicine. It prefers acidic, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade, with protection from the hot summer afternoon sun. It can be challenging to find in the nursery trade but it is easy to transplant when young. It has low branches with an open oval-to-round habit. The grayish-brown and exfoliating bark adds interest to a winter garden. Yellow flowers bloom in late winter to early spring before the leaves emerge. The leaves are dull green on the upper surface. The undersides are a lighter green and may have tufts of reddish-brown hairs along the veins. The flowers appear as yellow clusters or umbels. The red drupes are ellipsoid in shape and contain a stone. Red fruits appear in the fall and are attractive to birds, and plants provide nesting sites The Japanese cornelian dogwood is similar to the cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) . The Japanese cornelian dogwood flowers earlier, the fruits ripen later, and the exfoliating bark is more attractive. The Japanese cornelian dogwood makes a great flowering tree with showy edible fruits. It works well in a woodland garden or naturalized area. Grown as a shrub you can use it as a foundation planting, border, or hedge. Quick ID Hints: Grayish-brown exfoliating bark Clusters of yellow blooms in late winter and early spring, before the leaves emerge Dull green leaves on the upper surface, lower surface lighter green with tufts of reddish-brown hairs along the veins Small bright red fruits in the fall Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Suckering can be weedy, so promptly remove them to avoid spread. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factshee t on common pests and diseases. VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee. More information on Cornus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Multi-stemmed; Open; Oval; Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Each leaf measures from 2 to 4 inches long and 1 to 1.5 inches wide. The upper surface of the leaf is dull green and has entire margins. The undersides of the leaf are a lighter green and sometimes have tufts of reddish-brown hairs in the axils veins. The leaves appear opposite and ovate to elliptic or ovate to lanceolate. Fall color is variable from dull yellow to attractive reddish-purple.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Cross
Flower detail
A cluster of short-stalked, yellow flowers with 4 drooping bracts on naked stems in late winter to early spring before leaf out.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Edible; Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruit is a drupe that is red to purplish-red and appears in the fall. It is ellipsoid in shape and measures about 1/4 inch long and 1/8 inch wide. The fruits are edible but are very astringent. Each drupe contains an ellipsoid shaped stone.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray; Orange
Bark detail
The exfoliating bark is grayish-brown. The winter buds are terminal or axillary and solitary or associated with a flower bud.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
North Central and Southeast China
Distribution
Native: North Central and Southeast China; Introduced: Japan and Korea
Wildlife value
The fruits attract birds.
Attracts
Pollinators; Songbirds; Specialized Bees
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Colorful; Textural
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Drupe
Edibility
Fruits are edible but astringent so may be best left for the birds.
Uses (ethnobotany)
The fruit is used in Chinese medicine. In China, the fruit is known as "Zhu yu" or "Zao pi." The fruit is made into a tonic, and it may be prescribed for the treatment of impotence, lumbago, vertigo, and night sweats.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Edible Garden; Pollinator Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Border; Flowering Tree; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Screen/Privacy; Small Tree; Specimen; Understory Tree