Elegant Cornus Mas is a Ukrainian cultivar of dogwood released in 1980 that defies expectations for what a fruit tree can be. It produces abundant glossy dark red, pear-shaped fruits measuring just over an inch long, each weighing around 5 grams with a remarkable sugar content of 9.1%. What truly sets this variety apart is its unusual habit of clinging to the tree when ripe rather than dropping, combined with its extraordinary early yellow blossoms that emerge in mid-August. Hardy in zones 4 through 4, it thrives in full sun to partial shade and serves double duty as both an outstanding edible ornamental and a prolific producer for preserves, juice, and wine.
Partial Sun
Moderate
4-4
?in H x ?in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
This Ukrainian heirloom ripens unusually early for a Cornus mas, bursting with aromatic, pungent flavor that translates beautifully into preserves and wine. The fruit's refusal to drop from the tree when ripe is a game-changer for home gardeners, eliminating the scramble to harvest before loss. Brilliant yellow flowers arrive early in the season, creating a visual spectacle long before most spring bloomers, and the glossy dark red fruits that follow are as ornamental as they are delicious.
The pungent, flavorful fruits excel in preserves and jam-making, where their natural sugar content and complex flavor profile shine. Home winemakers prize this variety for producing distinctive, aromatic dogwood wine, while fresh juice captures the fruit's aromatic character beautifully. The combination of heavy production and late-season ripening makes it particularly valuable for gardeners seeking to extend their harvesting season well beyond summer berries.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your last spring frost. Maintain soil temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit for germination. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged during the germination period.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Harden off seedlings gradually over 7-10 days before planting. Space trees at least 15-20 feet apart to accommodate mature size and ensure adequate air circulation.
Harvest fruits when they turn a deep, glossy dark red and feel slightly soft to gentle pressure, typically in late summer through early fall. The unique trait of this cultivar is that ripe fruits cling firmly to the tree rather than dropping, allowing you to harvest selectively at peak ripeness without the urgency of a dropping fruit. Simply pluck ripe fruits by hand or gently twist and pull; the tree's firm grip on ripe fruit makes this process straightforward. Taste a few fruits to confirm they've reached full sweetness and aromatic intensity before harvesting the entire crop.
Prune Elegant Cornus Mas during dormancy in late winter or very early spring, before the distinctive yellow blossoms emerge. Focus on removing dead, damaged, or crossing branches to maintain an open canopy that allows light and air penetration. Light pruning encourages the branching structure that supports the heavy fruit loads this variety is known for; avoid heavy heading back, which can reduce flowering and fruiting. Remove any suckers that emerge from the base of the tree to maintain a single-leader or multi-stem form, depending on your preferred structure.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Elegant Cornus Mas (also known as Elehantnyi) emerged from Ukraine in 1980, representing a deliberate breeding effort to enhance the edible qualities and harvest convenience of this ancient species. This release marked a significant shift for Cornus mas cultivation in temperate regions, introducing a cultivar specifically selected for heavy fruit production, superior flavor, and the remarkable trait of fruit retention on the tree. The variety carries the heritage of Eastern European horticultural expertise, where dogwood fruits have long been valued for their culinary and medicinal properties.”