Plant of the week

CORNUS MAS ‘AUREA ELEGANTISSIMA’

HERE’S a dogwood with year-round value. Cornus mas (Cornelian cherry) bears masses of tiny yellow flowers in mid-to-late winter. In autumn, the foliage can colour up well, too. But C. mas Aurea Elegantissima is more strikingly beautiful. In summer, it has gently variegated foliage giving a quietly attractive show. The leaves colour more vividly in autumn and there are even edible berries.

If you can get to those before birds scoff the lot, they have a pleasant, slightly plummy taste. But they’re tiny, so it takes ages to pick more than a handful. Happy in almost any soil, in sun or partial shade, this is an easy plant to grow. You can let it develop as an uncontrolled tree, trim it as a hedge or maintain it as a medium to large shrub.