Male dogwood (Cornus mas) - winter-flowering yellow shrub - 12 cm pot - Height 35 cm

Yes, the male dogwood (Cornus mas) is one of the few shrubs to flower as early as late winter, generally between January and March depending on the climate and exposure. The flowers appear on bare wood, before any leaves, in the form of small umbels of bright yellow, highly luminous flowers. This early spectacle is all the more striking as gardens are still dormant at this time. The flowering is also highly melliferous and constitutes a valuable resource for bees emerging during the first warm days. The flowering period lasts from two to four weeks depending on weather conditions.

The male dogwood (Cornus mas) is botanically a large shrub or small tree depending on how it is trained and the space available to it. Left to grow freely, it can reach a height of 5 to 8 meters with a nearly equivalent spread after several decades, due to its slow growth. Pruned into a hedge or maintained in a mass planting, it remains more compact. Its natural habit is spreading, multi-stemmed, and very dense, making it an excellent natural privacy screen or windbreak. It is generally classified in the category of ornamental trees and shrubs due to its versatility.

Yes, the berries of the male dogwood, called dogwood berries, are perfectly edible and have been consumed since 'Antiquity in Mediterranean Europe and Central Europe. These shiny cherry-red drupes, which ripen in August and September, have a tart, slightly astringent flavor when 'they are not yet fully ripe. When fully ripe, they can be eaten raw or processed into jams, jellies, syrups, and even brandy in some Balkan countries. They are high in vitamin C.

The male dogwood (Cornus mas) is a perfectly hardy shrub that can withstand temperatures dropping to -20°C and below without any special protection. It is native to Central Europe and the Caucasus, regions subject to severe winters, which explains its excellent cold resistance. It can be planted in the ground in all regions of France, including areas with harsh winters such as the Alps, the Jura, or the Massif Central.

The male dogwood (Cornus mas) is one of the most shade-tolerant shrubs among ornamentally flowering species. It tolerates partial shade and even the partial shade of a light woodland or an exposed north wall well. However, to obtain abundant flowering and beautiful dogwood fruit, a sunny or partially shaded exposure is preferable. In deep and permanent shade, the plant survives but flowers and fruits significantly less. It is one of the few species capable of brightening a winter shady corner with its golden yellow flowers, even before the surrounding trees regain their leaves.

To create a hedge with male dogwood (Cornus mas), allow a spacing of 1.5 to 2 meters between each plant for a free-form, natural hedge, or 1 to 1.5 meters for a more compact, trimmed hedge. It is best to plant in autumn (October-November) or in spring (March-April), outside of the frost period. Dig holes twice as wide as the root ball, amend with well-rotted compost, and water thoroughly at planting, then regularly during the first season.

The male dogwood (Cornus mas) can easily be grown in a pot on a patio or balcony, at least for a few years, provided you choose a sufficiently large container (at least 40 to 50 cm in diameter for an adult plant) with good drainage. Use a quality multipurpose potting mix blended with garden soil and water more regularly than if it were planted in the ground, as pots dry out more quickly. Its spectacular early flowering on bare wood makes it a particularly remarkable patio plant in late winter.