Cornelian Cherry Dogwood vs Falsebox - TreeTime.ca

Cornelian Cherry Dogwood vs Falsebox

Paxistima myrsinites

Cornus mas

CUSTOM GROW

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Falsebox
Cornelian Cherry Dogwood

Falsebox is a hardy, native evergreen shrub found in forests, rocky slopes, and open woodland sites. Though small and easily overlooked among the leaves, the maroon flowers still supply nectar and pollen for pollinators such as native bees and flies. Blooming in spring, they provide an important early-season food source. Its year-round greenery adds visual interest through the winter.

Falsebox is a low-growing shrub that tolerates a wide range of conditions, including drought once established. It thrives particularly well beneath the shade of mature trees, where few other plants succeed. With its resilience and ecological value, Falsebox is well-suited for naturalization, restoration projects, and diverse landscape plantings.

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.

Falsebox Quick Facts

Cornelian Cherry Dogwood Quick Facts

Zone: 5a
Zone: 4a
Height: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Light: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: slow
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Growth form: prostrate to spreading
Spreading: layering - medium
Suckering: medium


Foliage: evergreen, leathery leaves
Bark: reddish-brown
Flowers: small, maroon-purple, fragrant
Flowers: yellow
Bloom time: summer
Berries: red
Flavor: sour
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC
Other Names: false box, mountain boxwood, mountain lover, myrtle boxwood, oregon boxleaf, oregon boxwood
Other Names: cornelia cherry, cornelia cherry dogwood, cornelian cherry, cornelian cherry dogwood, european cornel