Cornelian Cherry Dogwood (Cornus mas) SCHÖNBRUNNER GOURMET

The Schönbrunner Gourmet is a special cultivar of the Cornus mas, which impresses with its bright red, large, pear-shaped fruits. Bred in Austria, the variety's name also brings its Viennese origin closer to home. It is valued for its sweet taste, which is considered to be one of the best of the dogwood varieties. In doing so, it retains the characteristics of the classic drienok flavour. The berries, which are roughly 3 cm long, ripen from the second half of August in warm areas until September. In cooler areas, they overlap until the end of September or the end of October. The fruits of the dogwood are rich in vitamin C and can be used in hot and cold cooking and confectionery. Jams, syrups and compotes are popular. The benefits of the whole plant are well known in folk medicine, but also in the production of fruit spirit.

The dogwood is easy on the soil. In particular, it appreciates permeable, non-loamy soil with a neutral or slightly alkaline pH. The shrub itself grows into a tree over the years (in this case, leave one main straight shoot in early spring, suitable for the gradual formation of the trunk and crown) to a height of about 4 metres. It generally does not need pruning unless it is necessary to remove dry or damaged branches. It grows very slowly, producing strong and durable wood as it ages. The plant itself resists disease very well and so is essentially disease-free, just as it is not threatened by common pests. 

To some extent, it can act as an ornamental tree. In spring, between late February and April, it produces small but distinctive yellow flowers that attract bees. In autumn the leaves change colour from green to other autumn colours. It resists frosts down to -30 °C very well, which makes it suitable for growing in colder growing areas. The flowers themselves are also somewhat frost-resistant, which adds to their attractiveness. As far as cultivation is concerned, Schönbrunner Gourmet prefers well-drained soils and prefers a sunny position or partial shade. In terms of care and watering, it is a low-maintenance plant that grows well without regular pruning and cutting. Water especially when young and not yet sufficiently rooted and in dry periods. The variety is considered to be self-pollinating, but to a very limited extent. An additional pollinator is recommended for fruit production. 

The variety is suitable for organic cultivation and its hardiness characteristics are often highlighted as an important virtue. It is a suitable choice for the discerning grower interested in minimising chemical intervention as well as the time and cost involved in preventive protection and wintering. As a plant supplied rooted in a container, it can be planted in the garden at any time of the year, outside of the frozen months, without disturbing the roots.