Cornelian Cherry Dogwood (Cornus mas ‘Golden Glory’)
Heatherwood Spring
When I think about dogwoods I envision large white or pink bracts. When I think about ornamental cherries I see tight white or pink blooms. The Cornelian cherry dogwood has neither. However it does have small red cherry-like fruit in the fall.
I first saw a Cornelian cherry dogwood in the Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia. In late winter/early spring on one of my walks, I saw this large yellow blooming shrub-like tree. At a distance, I thought it was a large forsythia bush. As I got closer, it looked very different. I had no idea of what it was. I went to the visitor’s center asked what it was. To my surprise, they told me it was a dogwood!
For many springs and many visits to the Morris Arboretum, I scouted for the yellow blooming dogwood. It was consistently one of the first if not the first blooming tree in the Arboretum. It was truly a harbinger of spring and many later flowering trees.
When I moved back to Selah, WA and started developing our Heatherwood garden, a Cornelian cherry dogwood was one of the top ‘must have’ trees on my list. I always think of the many happy memories of the Philadelphia area and strolls in the Morris Arboretum when I view our special tree here in Heatherwood. Even though I live across the country from the Morris, I still am a member and supporter of the Arboretum. It is a must see when visiting the Philadelphia area.
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