Cornus mas, commonly known as Cornelian Cherry, is a medium to large deciduous shrub or small tree native to woodland edges, forest clearings, and riverbanks in Southern Europe to Western Asia. It typically grows to 5–12 m tall, with a spread of 4–5 m. The bark is dark brown, and the twigs are greenish, often covered in a fine down when young. The small flowers, 5–10 mm in diameter with four yellow petals, are produced in clusters of 10–25 together in the late winter to early spring, offering a valuable early nectar source for pollinators. The fruit is a glossy, oblong drupe, edible when ripe and is used in various culinary applications. The Cornelian Cherry is particularly noted for its very early flowering period, often in late winter, and its bright, cherry-like fruits that follow.

This species is valued for its ornamental qualities, such as the bright yellow flowers that appear before the leaves, providing a cheerful display in the otherwise barren late winter landscape. It is also appreciated for its edible fruit, which can be used in preserves and liqueurs. Cornus mas is versatile in landscape use, suitable for naturalistic plantings, as a specimen plant, or in mixed shrub borders. It thrives in full sun to part shade and is adaptable to a range of soil types, provided they are well-drained. While generally easy to maintain, it can suffer from canker and leaf spot diseases.CC BY-SA 4.0