I bought this shrub from Hillier nursery having seen the beautiful berries on the one they had growing in their gardens. However, when I look the shrub up on the net, there is no mention of the berries on many of the sites. Has anyone else got one of these plants and do you get berries on yours?
Here are pictures of two of the Cornus shrubs growing in Hillier Gardens.[attachment=2]
Yes and yes !!
We have several varieties and they are grown mainly for the winter colour on the stems but you only get this if you cut them back hard in the Spring. Cutting them back will not give fruit.
The ones we have as hedging, that are only cut back when they are in the way are the ones which produce the fruit. The chickens love to eat it, but fortunately they can only reach the lower branches so there is still plenty for other wildlife and for us to enjoy.
Thank you Chickadoodle, your reply has been very helpful. My OH was not very happy when I said it had to be cut back every Spring so he was pleased when I read your reply.
Pruning dogwoods hard in spring to encourage the colourfull stems normaly removes any flowering wood. However occasionaly if the growing season is good then the stems will grow, ripen and flower in the same season. I have had this happen a few times with my dogwoods.
The flowers and subsequent berries are rather insubstantial, especialy when compared to the true flowering dogwoods (cornus kousa, cornus mas etc). We grow these dogwoods for their stems and it it this that should be encouraged rather than the flowers.
Garden Apprentice, many thanks for your reply.
I do not agree that the berries on Alba Auria are insubstantial though as it was the berries that caught my eye on the plants in Hillier gardens. If you click on the photos, the pale turquoise berries of the Alba Aurea are very beautiful. The berries on the Sibirica also caught my attention. I haven't been able to find any pictures of the berries that grow on the Cornus kousa and Cornus mas that you mention. Do you have any pictures please?
Quote from: Paulines7 on September 30, 2008, 23:21:13
Garden Apprentice, many thanks for your reply.
I do not agree that the berries on Alba Auria are insubstantial though as it was the berries that caught my eye on the plants in Hillier gardens. If you click on the photos, the pale turquoise berries of the Alba Aurea are very beautiful. The berries on the Sibirica also caught my attention. I haven't been able to find any pictures of the berries that grow on the Cornus kousa and Cornus mas that you mention. Do you have any pictures please?
My personal growing expereince of cornus flowers and berries extends only to the basic cornus alba, C alba 'elegantissima', C.alba 'spaethii'and the yellow stemmed form cornus stolonifera (sp?). On these varieties the berries ARE rather insignificant. I will take your word for it with regard to the varieties you grow.
Cornus mas and Cornus kousa are the true flowering dogwoods, grown for the flowers and not for the stems. I dont know if they produce berries of any kind, as i have never grown one of them.
I am sorry i do not have any photos to show you. Apologies for any confusion.
Quote from: Garden Apprentice on October 01, 2008, 10:59:19
On these varieties the berries ARE rather insignificant. I will take your word for it with regard to the varieties you grow.
Garden Apprentice, I don't have any growing in my garden and that is why I was not sure what to do with the one I have bought.
Maybe the ones in Hillier Gardens were only covered in beautiful berries because of the rotten summer we have had. They berries were about 6mm across and the florets about 8cm but many of the berries were missing, either eaten by birds or taken off by people collecting seeds.
I notice that you are in Dorset so have you ever been to Hilliers? The planting that they have done over the past twenty years is incredible and what was once a very ordinary garden is now full of interesting trees and shrubs.
No I havent been to Hilliers but I would like to someday. I have been aware of it for some time and liked the look of it. As with many places its a case of just not getting around to going there. Another case in point is Great Dixter. Talked for years about going there but only managed it a month ago (worthe the wait though ;D).