Cornelian Cherry Dogwood vs White Fringe Tree - TreeTime.ca

Cornelian Cherry Dogwood vs White Fringe Tree

Cornus mas

Chionanthus virginicus

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Cornelian Cherry Dogwood
White Fringe Tree

Cornelian Cherry Dogwood is an ornamental plant with a variety of uses as it can be grown as a shrub, small tree, hedge, or privacy screen. The bright yellow flowers grow in clusters and bloom in late winter to early spring, providing an early food source for pollinators. They are visually striking as the flowers bloom before the leaves appear and last for several weeks.

Red, cherry-like fruits are produced in midsummer. They are edible but are better suited for preserves and syrups as the taste is fairly sour and astringent, similar to that of sour cherries and cranberries.

The Cornelian Cherry Dogwood was the winner of the Gold Medal Award from The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society as well as the Cary Award for having superior landscape appeal and for being winter hardy and pest resistant.

White Fringe Tree is known for its fringe-like white flowers. It can either grow as a small tree or a large multistemmed shrub. The White Fringe Tree has separate male and female plants. Both male and female flowers have white fringe-like petals, but the male flowers are longer and showier. The female flowers give way to clusters of dark blue to black berries. These berries are not edible for humans but attract birds and other wildlife.

The White Fringe Tree is tolerant of clay soils, saline soils, and air pollution but does not do well in prolonged dry conditions.

Cornelian Cherry Dogwood Quick Facts

White Fringe Tree Quick Facts

Zone: 4a
Zone: 3a
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: slow
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: medium


Flowers: yellow
Flowers: fragrant, white clusters
Berries: red
Berries: blue to black
Flavor: sour
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: cornelia cherry, cornelia cherry dogwood, cornelian cherry, cornelian cherry dogwood, european cornel
Other Names: american fringe tree, american fringetree, fringe tree, fringetree, north american fringe tree, white fringetree