Cornus mas Swietljaczok - European Cornel

Cornus mas 'Swietljacok' is a Ukrainian variety selected for its huge, fleshy, highly aromatic fruits. This small tree or large bush offers a decorative and nectar-rich yellow flowering from the end of winter, followed by fruits resembling small pears, ripening from August 20th. The cornels of this variety have a small stone and dense dark red, slightly sweet (9.7% sugar), tangy, tasty, and fragrant flesh. They can be eaten raw, juiced, or cooked. A 15-year-old tree will produce between 40 and 45 kg of fruit per year.

The cornelian cherry is a beautiful and easy-to-grow bush. It doesn't mind harsh winters, hot summers, or limestone soils! To reach its full potential, this variety should not lack water before early summer.

Cornelian cherry is native to Europe. Like all Cornus, it belongs to the Cornaceae family. It is a spreading bush 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 do not mind frost. Its deciduous leaves are ovate, 4 to 10 cm long, and arranged opposite 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 varying colour, size, and shape.

In the kitchen:

Cornels are naturally rich in vitamin C, minerals, and pectin. They can be eaten raw or dried, similar to goji berries, or cooked. They are used in compotes mixed with cranberries and pears to accompany game. They can be frozen. These fruits also give a delicious syrup with a high vitamin content. They have been used for centuries to make jams, jellies, and compotes. It is usually necessary to add sugar.

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

It is a very easy bush to use 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 Quinces or Korean White Forsythia. It is ornamental but 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.