Cornus, ‘Red Star’ cornelian cherry Cricket Hill Garden

Cornus mas ‘Red Star’

This cornelian cherry was selected for its large tasty fruits. Called Vidubetskii in Ukraine, it bears good crops of large, 1-1/4″ long, oval fruit. A later ripening variety, Red Star holds its fruit well into September. The glossy, dark red fruit has an appealing sweet-tart flavor and is very juicy and aromatic.

The fruit of this dogwood species has been enjoyed by humans for millennia. A particular favorite of the ancient Greeks, it was widely planted in medieval monastery gardens throughout Europe. Today, it is still grown commercially in Turkey.

Cherry-like fruits ripen in the late summer and early fall. Good for fresh eating as well as dried or made into preserves. Cornus mas is highly ornamental in the early spring, with the entire tree covered in a profusion of small yellow blossoms.

Size at maturity: 10-20′ tall and and 7-8′ wide.

Site Selection: Ideally full-sun location, but will also grow and fruit in dappled sun locations. Adaptable to a range or soil types provided the planting location is well drained. Prefers a pH of around 6.5.

Cultivation: Self-fertile trees require little attention once established. Cornus mas can be trained as a small standard tree or as a multi-stemmed shrub. For a mature tree it is only necessary to prune out dead, broken or crossed branches.

Zone hardiness, Pests, & Diseases: Hardy to USDA zone 5-7. Pest and disease free. Birds and critters will compete with humans for the harvest.

Plant size: 2′ tall tree

When we ship: FALL 2023 / SPRING 2024.