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Cornaceae FAMILY

Cornus alba

Cornus alba

Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitShrub
GrowthFast

Cornus alba is a very cold-hardy tree, tolerating temperatures down to around -35°c when dormant[1] Succeeds in full sun or light shade[[2]. An easily grown plant, it succeeds in any soil of good or moderate fertility[3], though it prefers an organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soil[4]. Grows well in heavy clay soils and in dry soils. Succeeds in poorly drained soils and so is suitable for streamside plantings[1]. A rampant, fast-growing species that is apt to smother neighbouring plants less vigorous than itself[5]. A very ornamental plant, especially in the autumn and winter with its fruit, autumn leaf colour and coloured stems[1]. There are several named varieties, selected mainly for their variegated leaves or winter stem colour[5]. For the best coloured stems, the plant should be cut back hard in the spring to about 5cm from the ground to encourage plenty of new growth[1]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[1].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame or in an outdoors seedbed if there is sufficient seed[6, 7]. The seed must be separated from the fruit flesh since this contains germination inhibitors[6, 8]. Stored seed should be cold stratified for 3 - 4 months and sown as early as possible in the year[8]. Scarification may also help as may a period of warm stratification before the cold stratification[6, 8]. Germination, especially of stored seed, can be very slow, taking 18 months or more[8]. Prick out the seedlings of cold-frame sown seeds into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow the plants on for their first winter in a greenhouse, planting out in the spring after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe side shoots, mid summer in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, taken with a heel if possible, autumn in a cold frame. High percentage[9]. Layering of new growth in early summer/July. Takes 9 months[9]. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Cornus+alba>

Pollinators

Insects

References

  1. [1]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  2. [2]The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers — Brickell. C. · Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. · 1990 · ISBN 0-86318-386-7 ↩︎Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.
  3. [3]RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 — F. Chittendon. · Oxford University Press · 1951 · ISBN - ↩︎Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]).
  4. [4]KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder — Missouri Botanical Garden · http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/ ↩︎Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
  5. [5]Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. — Bean. W. · Murray · 1981 · ISBN - ↩︎A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
  6. [6]Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. — McMillan-Browse. P. · Grower Books · 1985 · ISBN 0-901361-21-6 ↩︎Does not deal with many species but it is very comprehensive on those that it does cover. Not for casual reading.
  7. [7]The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. — Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. · Athens Ga. Varsity Press · 1987 · ISBN 0942375009 ↩︎A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.
  8. [8]Growing from Seed. Volume 4. — Bird. R. (Editor) · Thompson and Morgan. · 1990 · ISBN - ↩︎Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Yuccas, one on Sagebrush (Artemesia spp) and another on Chaerophyllum bulbosum.
  9. [9]Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. — Sheat. W. G. · MacMillan and Co · 1948 · ISBN - ↩︎A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
  10. [10]Flora of China — Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. · 1994 · http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ ↩︎An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.