Growing cornelian cherry
berry / bush fruit
Pollination
Crops far better with a second variety flowering at the same time.
Growing it
Zones 4-8. A dogwood, not a cherry - bright yellow flowers in late winter and tart red fruit for syrup and preserves. Slow, long-lived and remarkably pest-free.
Where cornelian cherry grows best
Hardy in zones 4-8, and it needs enough winter cold - about 600-1200 chill hours - to flower and fruit well. Combining the two:
Good fit across most of: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Also parts of Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Washington.
Will you get enough chill?
Cornelian Cherry needs roughly 600–1200 hours between 32 and 45 °F over winter to break dormancy evenly. Check your area with the chill hours calculator. Low-chill breeding has pushed many varieties well below the figure here, so read the plant tag.
Questions gardeners ask
What zone does cornelian cherry grow in?
Cornelian Cherry grows in USDA hardiness zones 4-8.
How many chill hours does cornelian cherry need?
Roughly 600-1200 hours between 32 and 45°F over winter, depending on the variety. Low-chill varieties need less - check the plant tag, and estimate your own area with the chill hours calculator.
Does cornelian cherry need a pollinator?
Partly self-fertile — crops much better with a partner. Crops far better with a second variety flowering at the same time.
Which states can grow cornelian cherry?
Cornelian Cherry suits most of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas and 26 more, and parts of 12 other states where the right zones occur. Your own zone and chill hours matter more than the state.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.