Organic Non-Treated Cornelian Cherry Tree {Cornus Officinalis} Sweet Edible Fruit | Indoor Outdoor | Patio | Bonsai | Heirloom NON GMO | 40 seeds Free Shipping! A unique and attractive form of Dogwood Growing as a shrub or small tree, it is valued for its tasty fruit and for its ornamental value. Our unique Ukrainian varieties produce unusually large, sweet, and flavorful fruit. As an ornamental, Cornelian Cherry is prized for its very early, delicate flowers appearing in early March before the leaves, its yellow and red fall color, and it's bright, red or yellow fruit, which taste like a Cherry or a wild Plum. Cornelian Cherry is good for fresh eating, preserves, juice, and wine. Cornelian-cherry dogwood, one of the first trees to flower in spring, is a small, 20 to 25 feet high tree or large shrub. It thrives in well-drained urban conditions as a specimen plant, in masses, near a patio, or as a hedge. Tight clusters of small star-shaped yellow flowers bloom in early spring, covering the tree before leaves emerge. Clean, medium-green foliage appears in summer, shortly followed by dark red fruits which ripen in July. The tree is native to Europe and Asia. To start Cornelian Cherries from seed, sow seeds from fresh fruits in fall, or stratify dried seed for 23 weeks, cold, or 16 weeks warm and then 4-16 weeks cold. Germination can take as long as 12-15 months, though nicking the seed coat prior to stratification can help to speed up the process. Seedlings raise two large irregular oval seed leaves when they sprout, followed by normal foliage with leaves in pairs. Cornelian Cherries can be grafted using any method, as long as scions are grafted low on the rootstock. Plants branch close to the ground, so it is important to make sure that all branches are coming from the scion rather than the rootstock.