Cornus officinalis seeds grow into the Japanese cornelian cherry — a large, deciduous shrub or small tree native to the temperate biome of China (Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, Shandong and other provinces) and Korea; widely cultivated in Japan since ancient times. Described by Siebold & Zucc. (Philipp Franz von Siebold and Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini, who documented the Japanese flora in the 1830s–1840s). The epithet officinalis means 'of the apothecary's shop' (from Latin), indicating its official medicinal status. Very closely related to C. mas of Europe. Produces masses of small, bright yellow flowers on bare branches in February to March; bright red, olive-shaped berries in late summer. Deeply important in traditional Chinese and Korean medicine for millennia: the red berries are one of the most widely used tonic herbs in the Chinese materia medica. Family Cornaceae.Full sun to partial shade; adaptable to a wide range of well-drained soils; cold-hardy. Excellent early-flowering ornamental and Chinese medicine plant. 'Officinalis' = of the apothecary's shop; Siebold & Zucc.; one of the most important tonic herbs in Chinese medicine Bright yellow flowers on bare branches February–March; red olive-shaped berries; major traditional medicine plant China (multiple provinces), Korea — temperate biome; widely cultivated in Japan since antiquity Genus Cornus: ~45 species; N. Temperate; dogwoods; Family Cornaceae; Order Cornales Full sun/partial shade; adaptable soils; cold-hardy; major Chinese medicine plant; Family Cornaceae Cornus officinalis — the Japanese cornelian cherry — is the East Asian counterpart of the European C. mas, and while similar in appearance and flowering habit, its significance is rooted in East Asian traditional medicine rather than European cuisine: the red berries are one of the most fundamental tonic herbs in Chinese pharmacopoeia, used for thousands of years in kidney and liver tonics, and the tree itself has been cultivated in Japanese gardens for its early spring flowering for centuries.IMPORTANT: Pictures show the adult plant, which is not for sale. The offer is only for seeds.
