Practical
Plants

Cornus sanguinea

Dogwood

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

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Cornaceae
Genus
Cornus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
3 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

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

Contrary to some reports, the fruit is not poisonous, but the leaves can cause skin irritations to sensitive people[16].

Edible uses

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

Fruit - raw or cooked[3]. A bitter flavour, it can also have an emetic effect on the body[1][17][4]. It is not worthwhile[6]. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[13]. An oil is obtained from the seed[12], it is edible when refined[19].

Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Oil

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

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

The bark is astringent and febrifuge[17]. It is used to treat fevers[14]. The leaves are sometimes used externally as an astringent[17]. The fruit is emetic[17].

Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Febrifuge

Material uses

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

The seed contains 45% of a non-drying oil[18], it is used in soap making and lighting[17][7][2][6][9]. A non-drying oil is also obtained from the pericarp, it is used for lighting[18]. The pericarp contains 19 - 35% oil[18]. A greenish-blue dye is obtained from the fruit[7][18]. The young stems are very flexible and are used in basketry[17][7][18][2]. Wood - tough, hard. Used for small items such as tool handles, turnery etc[4][15][6]. A good quality charcoal is obtained from the wood[6], the wood also makes an excellent fuel[6].

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Charcoal
Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Oil
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia to Spain, east to Sicily and Greece. Rare in S.W. Asia..
Habitat
Mixed woods, scrub and hedgerows, especially on calcareous soils[17][7][11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very 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[21][5]. The seed must be separated from the fruit flesh since this contains germination inhibitors[21][8]. Stored seed should be cold stratified for 3 - 4 months and sown as early as possible in the year[8]. Scarification may also help as may a period of warm stratification before the cold stratification[21][8]. Germination, especially of stored seed, can be very slow, taking 18 months or more[8]. 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[20]. Layering of new growth in June/July. Takes 9 months[20].

Cultivation

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

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in any soil of good or moderate fertility[1], ranging from acid to shallow chalk[13]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Plants are relatively shade tolerant, though they are not happy when growing in dense shade[11]. They grow badly when exposed to strong cold winds[11]. Plants are hardy to about -25°c[10]. The flowers have a rather unpleasant smell to most people, though they are attractive to insects[11]. Plants have a suckering habit and can quickly form dense thickets[11]. They can be coppiced regularly and will throw up long straight stems after being cut back[11]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[13].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩1↩2

  3. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  4. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  6. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  7. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩

  10. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩

  11. Beckett. G. and K. Planting Native Trees and Shrubs. Jarrold 1979-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  12. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  14. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩

  15. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  16. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

  17. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  18. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  19. Rosewarne experimental horticultural station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1984-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  21. 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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