Cornus mas Starokijewskij - European Cornel

Cornus mas 'Starokijewskij' is a Ukrainian variety of cornelian cherry selected for its excellent-tasting fruit, to be consumed raw or in the form of compotes, jellies, and other preserves. Its berries are medium-sized (about 7 grams), pear-shaped, and dark red when ripe. They have a sweet-tart balance and flavours of red currant, cherry, and raspberry. They are harvested from early September for 3 to 4 weeks.

Cornus mas is a small decorative and edible, easy to grow tree. It does not mind harsh winters, hot summers, or limestone soils! To reach its full potential, this variety should not lack water before early summer.

Cornus mas is native to Europe. Like all Cornus, it belongs to the Cornaceae family. It is a spreading shrub that reaches a height ranging from 3 to 5 metres at maturity, with an equal spread. It thrives in sunlight and is undemanding: it grows very well in limestone, ordinary, or even poor soil, but also tolerates slightly more acidic soils.

Its bright yellow flowers appear in February-March, before the leaves, in the form of numerous small umbels and are frost-resistant. Its deciduous leaves are ovate, 4 to 10 cm long, and arranged opposite each other on its square-sectioned branches. They are slightly wavy. The foliage takes on beautiful yellow, orange, or red tones before falling in autumn. Fruiting occurs in late summer, earlier or later depending on the variety, in the form of drupes of variable colour, size, and shape.

In the kitchen:

Cornelian cherries are naturally rich in vitamin C, minerals, and pectin. They can be consumed raw or dried, similar to goji berries, or cooked. They are used in compotes mixed with cranberries and pears to accompany game. They can also be frozen. These fruits also yield a flavourful syrup with high vitamin content. They have been used for centuries in the preparation of jams, jellies, and compotes. It is usually necessary to add sugar.

Cornus mas is also renowned for its dense and very hard wood, once used to make arrows, javelins, tool handles or walking sticks.

It is a very easy shrub to grow in the garden. Tolerating pruning, it can be planted as an informal or trimmed hedge, or even as a specimen. It easily pairs with other spring-flowering shrubs such as Japanese Quince or Korean White Forsythia. Besides its ornamental value, it is also appreciated for its ecological interest: its early flowering provides food for the first bees and other pollinators, and its fruits are loved by birds.