Edible Dogwoods (Cornus species)
Edible Dogwoods are beautiful multi-stemmed trees prized for their exceptional ornamental qualities and unique edible fruits that extend the harvest season into fall. These attractive trees feature soft, textured foliage and produce showy spring blooms followed by brilliant fall colors that create multi-season landscape interest.
The bright red fruits that ripen in autumn offer a mildly sweet, tropical flavor reminiscent of mango or persimmon, enjoyed fresh or used in jams, sauces, and desserts - a distinctive harvest when few other fruits are available. Species like Kousa Dogwood produce raspberry-like fruits with creamy flesh, while Cornelian Cherry offers tart, cherry-like drupes valued in European cuisine for millennia.
These adaptable trees reach 15-25 feet at maturity with attractive branching structure and bark interest, thriving in well-drained soils with full sun to partial shade. Hardy across USDA Zones 4-8, edible dogwoods combine productive fruit harvests with outstanding four-season beauty, making them excellent choices for edible landscapes, ornamental gardens, and wildlife plantings where their flowers, fruits, and foliage provide year-round value.
Edible Dogwoods (Cornus species)
Edible Dogwoods are beautiful multi-stemmed trees prized for their exceptional ornamental qualities and unique edible fruits that extend the harvest season into fall. These attractive trees feature soft, textured foliage and produce showy spring blooms followed by brilliant fall colors that create multi-season landscape interest.
The bright red fruits that ripen in autumn offer a mildly sweet, tropical flavor reminiscent of mango or persimmon, enjoyed fresh or used in jams, sauces, and desserts - a distinctive harvest when few other fruits are available. Species like Kousa Dogwood produce raspberry-like fruits with creamy flesh, while Cornelian Cherry offers tart, cherry-like drupes valued in European cuisine for millennia.
These adaptable trees reach 15-25 feet at maturity with attractive branching structure and bark interest, thriving in well-drained soils with full sun to partial shade. Hardy across USDA Zones 4-8, edible dogwoods combine productive fruit harvests with outstanding four-season beauty, making them excellent choices for edible landscapes, ornamental gardens, and wildlife plantings where their flowers, fruits, and foliage provide year-round value.
