Bentham’s Cornel

(Cornus capitata)

Bentham’s Cornel (Cornus capitata)

/

return to results
Previous Plant Next Plant

/

Cornus capitata image
scroll forward scroll backward
scroll forward scroll backward
Estimated Native Range
Species Map Help

Summary

Cornus capitata, commonly known as Bentham’s Cornel or Evergreen Dogwood, is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to montane forests and forest margins in the Himalayas and East Asia. It typically grows to a height of 12 meters with a similar spread, featuring a rounded crown. The leaves are gray-green, elliptic to oblong, and exhibit a pale, fuzzy texture underneath, measuring several centimeters in length. During the summer, it produces showy white flowers that are actually bracts surrounding the true, smaller flowers. The fruit, or infructescence, is a small aggregate of drupes fused into a red body 2 or 3 centimeters across, resembling a strawberry, and is edible but can be bitter.

Bentham’s Cornel is valued for its ornamental qualities, including its attractive foliage, creamy white summer blooms, and colorful fruit, which can persist into winter. It is used in gardens and parks for its year-round interest and as a specimen or border plant. While it prefers full sun to part shade, it is adaptable to a range of light conditions and requires medium water and well-drained soil. It is relatively low-maintenance but can be susceptible to anthracnose and powdery mildew. The plant is not known for aggressive roots or significant invasiveness, but gardeners should be aware of its potential disease issues.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Shrub, Tree
  • Height: 20-40 feet
  • Width: 20-40 feet
  • Growth Rate: Moderate
  • Flower Color: Yellow, White
  • Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
  • Leaf Retention: Evergreen

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: Medium
  • Drainage: Medium

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Fragrant, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant

Natural Habitat

native to montane forests and forest margins in the Himalayas and East Asia

Other Names

Common Names: Evergreen Dogwood, Himalayan Flowering Dogwood, Himalayan Strawberry-Tree

Scientific Names: , Cornus capitata, Dendrobenthamia capitata, Benthamia capitata, Benthamidia capitata, Cynoxylon capitatum, Dendrobenthamiia angustata var. wuyishanensis, Dendrobenthamiia capitata, Dendrobenthamiia capitata var. emeiensis, Dendrobenthamiia emeiensis

GBIF Accepted Name: Cornus capitata Wall.