Cornus mas
Etymology
The genus name Cornus comes from Latin, meaning “horn,” referring to the exceptional hardness of its wood. It was traditionally used for tool handles, arrows, javelins, and other wear-resistant wooden parts. The species name mas (Latin for “male”) might suggest gender, though the plant's early flowers are actually hermaphroditic. Here, “male” is used figuratively to distinguish it from its close relative Cornus sanguinea, sometimes referred to as the “female” dogwood.
Habitat and Distribution
Native to Europe, the cornelian cherry is an indigenous shrub. It thrives in full sun and is not demanding – it grows well in calcareous, normal, or even poor soils, and tolerates slightly acidic soils too. Exceptionally hardy and long-lived, it can survive up to 100 years! In Switzerland, it is found widely in hedgerows, at forest edges, on rocky slopes and calcareous valley margins – especially in Val Mesocco, Poschiavo Valley, the Lower Rhône Valley, and the Lake Geneva region.
Ecological Value
Bright yellow flowers bloom as early as February, before the reddish leaves emerge, in dense umbels. By late August, the shrub bears elongated red drupes known as cornelian cherries. The early flowering offers essential food to bees and pollinators; the fruit is loved by birds, and the leaves are grazed by deer. Its strong roots help prevent soil erosion. This tough shrub thrives in poor, dry soils and is well adapted to face the effects of climate change.
Culinary and Medicinal Value
The fruits are used in desserts like yogurt (raw) or pies (cooked). Harvested before full ripeness, they should be cooked to reduce acidity. Fully ripe (dark red, soft) fruits are delicious raw, revealing a full range of flavors. Traditionally, unripe orange fruits were fermented in brine and eaten like olives – still a favorite Armenian recipe. In Iran, the green fruits are eaten with salt. In northern Europe, the flowers were used to flavor spirits. Cornelian cherries make excellent chutneys, jellies, preserves, and can also be dried like goji berries.
They’re rich in calcium, potassium, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, and sodium. Benefits include: anti-diarrheal, astringent, tonic, liver-protective, antiviral, antibacterial, and antioxidant – helping to prevent many chronic diseases. The bark also has antiseptic and vermifuge properties.
Sources:
https://www.jardindupicvert.com/arbustes/4511-cornouiller-male.html
https://www.cooperative-apicole.fr/medias/plantes-melliferes-du-mois/cornouiller_male_mars.pdf
https://www.infoflora.ch/fr/flore/cornus-mas.html
https://www.rustica.fr/plantes-medicinales/vertus-bienfaits-cornouiller-male,12571.html
https://cuisinesauvage.org/le-cornouiller-male-un-arbuste-plein-de-surprises/te-plein-de-surprises/