Carnelian Cherry (Cornus Mas)

A Pictorial Portrait

The national fruit of Turkey, a member of the dogwood family, this shrub grows cultivated in parks and backyards throughout the US.

Carnelian Cherry Branch with Fruit

A good source of vitamin C, it even contains chemicals that may fight diabetes. Let the sour fruit ripen at room temperature until dark purple, eat raw, or cook with herbs or spices, a sweetener and thickener, and use in pies, puddings, and cakes.

Pen-and-ink drawing by "Wildman"

Carnelian Cherry Bush in Flower

Small yellow flowers blooming on this shrub are among the first signs of spring.

Carnelian Cherry Flower Cluster
The tiny, odorless flowers grow in globular clusters.

Carnelian Cherry Flower
White-tipped pollen-covered stamens surround a cylindrical stigma, the pollen's destination.

Carnelian Cherry Branch with Fruit
Note the opposite (paired), oval, toothless leaves, onion-shaped buds, and clusters of oblong, dark red fruit.
Watercolor pencil painting by "Wildman"

Unripe Carnelian Cherry Fruits
Each fruit hangs from the twigs from a slender fruit stalk.

Unripe Carnelian Cherry
The hard, red fruit is still unripe.

Ripe and Unripe Carnelian Cherries

The fruit, which ripens off the bush, is ready to eat when soft enough to crack, and dark purple-red. This usually happens in the second half of summer, although some bushes wait until fall. The fruit on the top right with the crack is at its peak.