Cornus mas 'JFS PN4Legacy' / 'Saffron Sentinel' (Cornelian Cherry)

A versatile, columnar tree for many landscape applications; features bright yellow flowers in very early spring before the dark green leaves; tart, tasty red berries in summer; deep crimson fall color; attractive dark brown bark exfoliates with age

Saffron Sentinel; Cornelian Cherry is a multi-stemmed deciduous tree with a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

Saffron Sentinel; Cornelian Cherry is clothed in stunning clusters of yellow flowers along the branches from late winter to early spring before the leaves. It features an abundance of magnificent red berries from early to mid summer. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up. It has dark green deciduous  foliage. The pointy leaves turn crimson in fall. The peeling dark brown bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Saffron Sentinel; Cornelian Cherry will grow to be about 22 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.