Clusters of tiny yellow flowers on bare wood in February — Cornus mas is one of the very first outdoor bonsai to emerge from winter, sometimes before the late March snow.
What makes it unique. Cornus mas flowers directly on aged shoots and branches, before any leaf appears, in small bright yellow umbels grouped along bare wood. This early, understated, luminous winter flowering contrasts with the complete nakedness of the silhouette. In summer, bright red cherry-shaped drupes ripen gradually — edible, slightly tart, they have been used for centuries in jams and liqueurs. In autumn, the foliage turns orange-red before falling.
Origin. Native to forest edges and garrigue scrubland from central and southern Europe to Asia Minor, Cornus mas grows in varied soils — calcareous or not — in partial shade or full sun. This remarkable adaptability to very different conditions makes it one of the easiest native European species to cultivate as bonsai.
A generous European bonsai. Its robustness, tolerance of pruning, exceptional cold-hardiness, and early flowering make it an ideal bonsai for those beginning with a strong-character European species. It ages well, develops a beautiful scaly grey bark over time, and reliably rewards with flowers and fruits without demanding special conditions.
Clusters of tiny yellow flowers on bare wood in February — Cornus mas is one of the very first outdoor bonsai to emerge from winter, sometimes before the late March snow.
What makes it unique. Cornus mas flowers directly on aged shoots and branches, before any leaf appears, in small bright yellow umbels grouped along bare wood. This early, understated, luminous winter flowering contrasts with the complete nakedness of the silhouette. In summer, bright red cherry-shaped drupes ripen gradually — edible, slightly tart, they have been used for centuries in jams and liqueurs. In autumn, the foliage turns orange-red before falling.
Origin. Native to forest edges and garrigue scrubland from central and southern Europe to Asia Minor, Cornus mas grows in varied soils — calcareous or not — in partial shade or full sun. This remarkable adaptability to very different conditions makes it one of the easiest native European species to cultivate as bonsai.
A generous European bonsai. Its robustness, tolerance of pruning, exceptional cold-hardiness, and early flowering make it an ideal bonsai for those beginning with a strong-character European species. It ages well, develops a beautiful scaly grey bark over time, and reliably rewards with flowers and fruits without demanding special conditions.