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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Cornus chinensis is a deciduous Tree growing to 10 m (32ft 10in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in flower from February to March, and the seeds ripen in September. 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.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Plant Habitats
Woodland Garden Canopy; Secondary;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:
The following notes refer to the closely related species C. officinalis, they probably also apply to this species[K]:- Fruit - raw or cooked[105, 177]. The fully ripe fruit is quite pleasant but slightly astringent[K]. It is about 1.5cm long[200]. The fruit contains about 8.6% sugars, 2.9% malic acid, 0.74% ash[179].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
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Antibacterial Antifungal Antiperiodic Antiseptic Antitumor Astringent Diuretic Hepatic
Hypotensive Malaria Tonic Urinary
The fruit is used medicinally for similar treatments as Cornus officinalis[266]. These are:- Shan Zhu Yu has been used for at least 2,000 years in Chinese herbal medicine. It is a herb that "stabilizes and binds" and is used principally to reduce heavy menstrual bleeding and unusually active secretions including copious sweating, excessive urine, spermatorrhoea and premature ejaculation[147, 238, 254]. Like all herbs that suppress bodily fluids (even excessive ones), it will simply prolong or lead to a worsening of symptoms if it is used without tonic or detoxifying herbs[254]. It is, therefore, normally used in combination with herbs such as Rehmannia glutinosa and is an ingredient of the "Pill of eight ingredients" which is used in China to "warm up and invigorate the yang of the loins"[254]. The fruit is antibacterial, antifungal, hypotensive, antitumor, astringent, diuretic, hepatic and tonic[116, 147, 176, 178, 238]. The fruit, without the seed, is decocted for the treatment of arthritis, fever and a wide range of other ailments[218]. It is used in the treatment of senile lumbago, diabetes, cystitis, tinnitus etc[174, 254]. The fruit has an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Bacillus dysenteriae and Staphylococcus[176]. The fruit is harvested when fully ripe and is dried for later use[238]. The stem bark is astringent, antimalarial and tonic[218]. The plant is antibacterial, diuretic, hypotensive and a urinary antiseptic[218].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
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]. Plants are not very cold-tolerant, they succeed outdoors only in the milder areas of the country where winter temperatures do not fall below about -5°c[11, 200]. A specimen growing in a fairly open sunny position at Kew Gardens in April 1999 was about 10 years old and 2 metres tall. It had no sign of flowers, though it is obviously more cold hardy than believed since it has already tolerated temperatures rather lower than -5°c[K]. This species is very closely related to C. mas and C. officinalis, differing mainly in having black instead of red fruit[11, 200]. 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 (Gansu Sheng, Guangdong Sheng, Guizhou Sheng, Henan Sheng, Hubei Sheng, Shaanxi Sheng, Sichuan Sheng, Xizang Zizhiqu, Yunnan Sheng, Zhejiang Sheng)
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 capitata | Bentham's Cornel | Tree | 12.0 |
7-10
| M | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 1 | 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
Wangerin.
Botanical References
11200266
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