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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Cornus capitata is an evergreen Tree growing to 12 m (39ft) by 12 m (39ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen from September to November. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Benthamida capitata. B. fragifera. Dendrobenthamia capitata.
Plant Habitats
Woodland Garden Canopy; Secondary; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:
Fruit - raw or cooked. A bitter-sweet flavour[2, 105, 183], tasting like an over-ripe banana[166]. The fruit can also be used in preserves[51, 146]. The fruit is about 25mm in diameter[200], it is fleshy with a number of seeds and a tough slightly bitter skin[K]. Our experience is that some trees can produce quite pleasant tasting fruits, but many others produce fruit with a distinct and unpleasant bitterness[K]. The fruit ripens in late autumn to early winter and will fail to ripe properly if the weather is very cold[K].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
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Astringent
The bark is used medicinally[266]. No further information is given, though the bark is a source of tannin which is used as an astringent[K].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Fuel Tannin Wood
The branches and leaves are a source of tannin[266]. Wood - very hard, close grained but warps when being seasoned. Used mainly for fuel[158, 272] and for making tools[266]..
Special Uses
Food Forest
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in any soil of good or moderate fertility[1], ranging from acid to shallow chalk[200]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in full sun or light shade[[188]. Prefers semi-shade[219]. This species is hardy to between -5 and -10°c[184], it grows very well in S.W. England, self-sowing and fruiting prolifically in Cornish woodland gardens[11, 49, 59, , 104, 182] and doing well by the coast where it tolerates sea winds[182]. Plants are not hardy in the London area, being killed even when on a south-facing wall[11]. Another report says that it succeeds as far north as Edinburgh. Squirrels are very fond of this fruit[166]. This species has been known to hybridize with C. kousa, the cultivar 'Norman Hadden' could be such a hybrid[182]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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Plant Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame or in an outdoors seedbed if there is sufficient seed[80, 113]. The seed must be separated from the fruit flesh since this contains germination inhibitors[80, 164]. Stored seed should be cold stratified for 3 - 4 months and sown as early as possible in the year[164]. Scarification may also help as may a period of warm stratification before the cold stratification[80, 164]. Germination, especially of stored seed, can be very slow, taking 18 months or more[164]. 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, July/August 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[78]. Layering of new growth in June/July. Takes 9 months[78].
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Native Range
TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Guizhou Sheng, Sichuan Sheng, Xizang Zizhiqu, Yunnan Sheng (south)) TROPICAL ASIA: Bhutan, India (Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal (north)), Nepal, Myanmar (north)
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
| Related Plants
|
| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Cornus alba | Tartarian Dogwood | Shrub | 3.0 |
3-7
| F | LMH | SN | Mwe | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Cornus alternifolia | Green Osier, Alternateleaf dogwood, Alternate Leaf Dogwood, Golden Shadows Pagoda Dogwood, Green Osi | Shrub | 6.0 |
3-8
| F | LMH | N | DM | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Cornus amomum | Silky Dogwood | Shrub | 3.0 |
4-8
| M | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Cornus asperifolia drummondii | Roughleaf Dogwood | Shrub | 4.0 |
5-9
| F | LMH | N | M | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Cornus australis | | Shrub | 4.0 |
6-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Cornus canadensis | Creeping Dogwood, Bunchberry dogwood, Bunchberry | Perennial | 0.3 |
2-7
| F | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Cornus chinensis | | Tree | 10.0 |
7-10
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 3 | |
| Cornus controversa | Giant Dogwood, Wedding Cake Tree, | Tree | 15.0 |
5-8
| F | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Cornus coreana | | Tree | 20.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Cornus elliptica | | Tree | 10.0 |
7-10
| M | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Cornus florida | Flowering Dogwood | Shrub | 6.0 |
5-9
| M | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Cornus hemsleyi | | Shrub | 4.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Cornus hongkongensis | | Shrub | 15.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Cornus iberica | | Shrub | 4.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Cornus kousa | Japanese Dogwood, Kousa dogwood, Chinese Dogwood, | Tree | 10.0 |
5-8
| S | LMH | SN | M | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Cornus kousa chinensis | Japanese Dogwood | Tree | 10.0 |
5-8
| | LMH | SN | M | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Cornus macrophylla | Large-Leaf Dogwood | Tree | 15.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Cornus mas | Cornelian Cherry, Cornelian Cherry Dogwood | Shrub | 5.0 |
4-8
| M | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Cornus monbeigii | | Shrub | 5.0 |
6-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Cornus multinervosa | | Tree | 8.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Cornus nuttallii | Mountain Dogwood, Pacific dogwood, Western Dogwood | Tree | 10.0 |
6-8
| M | LMH | SN | DM | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Cornus oblonga | Oblong-Petal Dogwood | Tree | 6.0 |
8-11
| | LMH | SN | M | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Cornus occidentalis | Western Dogwood | Shrub | 6.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 1 | |
| Cornus officinalis | Shan Zhu Yu, Asiatic dogwood, Japanese Cornel Dogwood | Shrub | 10.0 |
5-8
| M | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Cornus poliophylla | | Shrub | 4.0 |
6-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Cornus quinquenervis | | Shrub | 3.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Cornus rugosa | Round-Leaved Dogwood | Shrub | 3.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | DM | 0 | 1 | |
| Cornus sanguinea | Dogwood, Bloodtwig dogwood | Shrub | 3.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Cornus sericea | Red Osier Dogwood, Western dogwood | Shrub | 2.5 |
2-7
| F | LMH | SN | MWe | 2 | 2 | 4 |
|
|
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
Wall. ex Roxb.
Botanical References
11200266
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