Common Name: Dogwood

General Information

Cornus sanguinea is a deciduous shrub producing a cluster of procumbent or drooping stems up to 3 metres tall. The plant does not have a rhizomatous rootstock[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is often grown as an ornamental in gardens, valued especially for the colour of its stems in winter.

Known Hazards

Contrary to some reports, the fruit is not poisonous, but the leaves can cause skin irritations to sensitive people[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Throughout Europe, excluding Finland, Moldova and Iceland; W. Asia - Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Caucasus

Habitat

Mixed woods, scrub and hedgerows, especially on calcareous soils[, , ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Cornus sanguinea is a very cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°c when dormant[].
Plants succeed in full sun and are also relatively shade tolerant, though they are not happy when growing in dense shade[, ]. An easily grown plant, it prefers an organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soil, though it succeeds in any soil of good or moderate fertility[, ], ranging from acid to shallow chalk[]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. It grows badly when exposed to strong cold winds[].
The flowers have a rather unpleasant smell to most people, though they are attractive to insects[].
Plants have a suckering habit and can quickly form dense thickets[]. They can be coppiced regularly and will throw up long straight stems after being cut back[].
Although pruning is not required, many gardeners choose to remove 20 - 25% of the oldest stems in early spring of each year in order to stimulate the growth of new stems which will display the best stem colour[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. A bitter flavour, it can also have an emetic effect on the body[, , ]. It is not worthwhile[]. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[].

An oil is obtained from the seed and fleshy pericarp[, ], it is possibly edible when refined[].

Medicinal

The bark is astringent and febrifuge[]. It is used to treat fevers[].

The leaves are sometimes used externally as an astringent[].

The fruit is emetic[].

Agroforestry Uses:

An ornamental plant that can be grown as a hedge[].

Other Uses

The seed contains up to 45% of a non-drying oil[], it is used in soap making and lighting[, , , , ].
A non-drying oil is also obtained from the pericarp, it is used for lighting[]. The pericarp contains 19 - 35% oil, exceptionally to 55%[].

A greenish-blue dye is obtained from the fruit[, ].

The young stems are very flexible and are used in basketry[, , , ]. The thin, flexible branches are used in the manufacture of baskets, hoops, and pipe stems[].

The reddish wood is finely-grained, tough, hard. Used for small items such as tool handles, turnery etc[, , , ].
A good quality charcoal is obtained from the wood[], the wood also makes an excellent fuel[].

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[].