Cornus mas seeds (Cornelian Cherry)

Description

Truly an amazing multipurpose ancient fruit tree. In late winter, branches are clothed in clusters of bright yellow flowers providing nectar and pollen in such abundance, you can hear the bees working the blossoms meters away. By mid August clusters of cherry like fruits begin to ripen to a deep red and begin to bend the branches with their weight.  When fully ripe fruits taste of sweet-tart plums.  Its thick juice is an intense raspberry red and makes a robust healthful cordial.  Trouble free short statured trees are great on hillsides to stabilize soils. Strong limbs survive snow loads. Single seeded for easy pitting so there’s no surprises if you’re making preserves, wine, or simply for juice. Cling stone.

A customer commented on how marvelous a jam it makes. I will attempt to make jam next year. Knowing how thick the fruit flesh is, it won’t need much if any pectin to thicken. Its intense red is the colour of life itself.

Our species has enjoyed Cornelian cherries for thousands of years with evidence of pits found around a Neolithic hearth.

• Seed Count: 15-20
• Collection Date: Oct 2023
• Hardiness Zone: 4-9
• Height and Width: 6m x 6m
• Germination test type: float; cut
• Family: Cornaceae

How to germinate Cornus mas seeds:

Soak seed 24-48 hours. Cold stratify 3 months then provide gentle heat 12-15 C to germinate. Seed often bears twin embryos where the second one can emerge at the same time or days later but can also germinate the following spring so don’t toss seed or sowing pots/trays. You will be surprised.  Our practices in the nursery is that we cold stratify upon collection and baggie sow it in a blend of moist peat & sand medium. It could germinate in the fridge around March if not the bag is placed in a warm room to germinate. Resulting sproutlings are transplanted into a communal germination pot and placed under growlights or greenhouse.  Fast growing seedlings can reach 1m in height first year under the proper growing conditions.  I’ve had 5 year old start flowering.