Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Cornaceae

Genus:

Cornus

Species:

Cornus officinalis

USDA Symbol:

COOF3

Growth Characteristics

Height:

900 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Medium

Bloom Months:

feb,mar,apr

Bloom Colors:

yellow

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:

★☆☆☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fall Color:

red, purple

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

fertile, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

good drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

prefers organically rich soils

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 90–120 days

Germination Time:

30–90 days

Notes:

Requires warm stratification followed by cold stratification for reliable germination. Seeds may take two years to germinate without proper treatment.