Cornelian cherry

It is a medium to large deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 5–12 m (16–39 ft) tall, with dark brown branches and greenish twigs. The leaves are opposite, 4–10 cm (1.6–3.9 in) long and 2–4 cm (0.8–1.6 in) broad, with an ovate to oblong shape and an entire margin. The flowers are small (5–10 mm in diameter), with four yellow petals, produced in clusters of 10–25 together in the late winter (between February and March in the UK), well before the leaves appear. The fruit is an oblong red drupe 2 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter, containing a single seed.

The shrub was not native to the British Isles. William Turner had only heard of the plant in 1548, but by 1551 he had heard of one at Hampton Court Palace. Gerard said it was to be found in the gardens "of such as love rare and dainty plants". The appreciation of the early acid-yellow flowers is largely a 20th-century development.

Cultivars. The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (confirmed 2017):

'Aurea' (yellow leaves and flowers, red fruit) 'Golden Glory' (profuse yellow flowers, shiny red berries) 'Variegata' (variegated leaves, glossy red fruit)