Practical
Plants

Cornus hongkongensis

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Cornus genus in the family Cornaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Cornaceae
Genus
Cornus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit[4]. Eaten raw and used for making wine[7]. In some forms, the fruit is sweet and tasty[7].

Plant part
Fruit

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The hard wood is used as building material and agricultural implments[7].

Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
E. Asia - S. China.
Habitat
Thickets, broad-leaved evergreen forests, roadsides, by streams, valleys, slopes and forests at elevations of 400 - 2500 metres[7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame or in an outdoors seedbed if there is sufficient seed[9][2]. The seed must be separated from the fruit flesh since this contains germination inhibitors[9][3]. Stored seed should be cold stratified for 3 - 4 months and sown as early as possible in the year[3]. Scarification may also help as may a period of warm stratification before the cold stratification[9][3]. Germination, especially of stored seed, can be very slow, taking 18 months or more[3]. 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[5]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, taken with a heel if possible, autumn in a cold frame. High percentage[8]. Layering of new growth in June/July. Takes 9 months[8].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. A very variable species, it is sometimes divided up into a number of closely related but distinct species[7]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. An easily grown plant, it succeeds in any soil of good or moderate fertility[1], ranging from acid to shallow chalk[6]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in full sun or light shade[[5]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[6].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

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  3. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  5. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  7. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  8. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  9. McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

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