Common Name:

General Information

Cornus chinensis is a deciduous tree that can grow from 4 - 10 metres tall. The bole can be up to 60cm in diameter[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - central and southern China, ?Myanmar.

Habitat

Dense forests, mixed forest margins, slopes; at elevations from 700 - 2 500 metres, occasionally to 3,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	7.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Cornus chinensis is not generally considered to be very cold-tolerant based on plants grown from collections made in Assam which will only succeed outdoors only in areas where winter temperatures do not fall below about -5°c[, ]. More recent collections from Sichuan, however, are proving to be much more cold tolerant, perhaps to as low as -15°c[]. 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[].
Succeeds in full sun or light shade[[], preferring semi-shade[].An easily grown plant, it succeeds in any soil of good or moderate fertility[], ranging from acid to shallow chalk[]. Grows well in heavy clay soils.
This species is very closely related to Cornus mas and Cornus officinalis, differing mainly in having black instead of red fruit[, ].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

The following notes refer to the closely related species C. officinalis, they probably also apply to this species[]:-

Fruit - raw or cooked[, ]. The fully ripe fruit is quite pleasant but slightly astringent[]. IThe red or black (when ripe), oblong fruit is 6 - 15mm long and 3 - 4mm wide[, ]. The fruit contains about 8.6% sugars, 2.9% malic acid, 0.74% ash[].

Medicinal

The fruit is used medicinally for similar treatments as Cornus officinalis[]. 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[, , ]. 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[]. 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'[].

The fruit is antibacterial, antifungal, hypotensive, antitumor, astringent, diuretic, hepatic and tonic[, , , , ]. The fruit, without the seed, is decocted for the treatment of arthritis, fever and a wide range of other ailments[, ]. It is used in the treatment of senile lumbago, diabetes, cystitis, tinnitus etc[, , ]. The fruit has an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Bacillus dysenteriae and Staphylococcus[].
The fruit is harvested when fully ripe and is dried for later use[].

The stem bark is astringent, antimalarial and tonic[].

The plant is antibacterial, diuretic, hypotensive and a urinary antiseptic[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame or in an outdoors seedbed if there is sufficient seed[, ]. The seed must be separated from the fruit flesh since this contains germination inhibitors[, ]. Stored seed should be cold stratified for 3 - 4 months and sown as early as possible in the year[]. Scarification may also help as may a period of warm stratification before the cold stratification[, ]. Germination, especially of stored seed, can be very slow, taking 18 months or more[]. 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[].
Layering of new growth in early summer/July. Takes 9 months[].