The Dogwood plant belongs to the genus Cornus, a diverse group of trees and shrubs recognized for their distinctive foliage, bark, and showy blooms. These popular ornamental plants are not generally grown for food. While certain varieties of Dogwood produce edible fruit, the flowers themselves are not safe for consumption and are sometimes associated with mild toxicity. Understanding the specific parts of the plant and which species are involved is important for safely interacting with this common landscape tree.
Edibility of Dogwood Flowers
The prominent, petal-like structures most people identify as Dogwood flowers are technically modified leaves called bracts. These bracts surround the tree’s true, small, greenish-yellow flowers, which are tightly clustered in the center. Neither the showy bracts nor the actual flowers are consumed as a food source in any Dogwood species.
Ingestion of the flowers or bracts is discouraged due to their unpalatable texture and potential for causing mild gastrointestinal irritation. For the common flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), the flowers possess astringent properties, similar to the bark. Consuming any significant quantity is likely to result in an unpleasant digestive reaction. The lack of desirable flavor and texture ensures they remain primarily ornamental features rather than culinary ingredients.
Safety Concerns and Toxic Compounds
The primary safety concerns surrounding Dogwood relate to the non-fruit parts of common ornamental varieties, especially the bright red berries produced by the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida). These berries, or drupes, are considered inedible for humans and can cause symptoms of acute digestive upset if ingested. The toxicity is mild but can manifest as vomiting, diarrhea, and stomachache.
The plant’s defense mechanisms are due to specific compounds found throughout the bark, leaves, and fruit. The bark of Cornus florida contains a bitter-tasting glycoside known as ‘cornin,’ which imparts highly astringent qualities. This compound is responsible for the plant’s ability to cause gastrointestinal discomfort. Although the plant is frequently browsed by wildlife, the concentration of these irritating substances is high enough to deter human consumption of the berries and vegetative parts.
Edible Uses of Specific Dogwood Fruits
Despite the general toxicity of ornamental Dogwood varieties, a few species within the Cornus genus are cultivated specifically for their fruit. The Cornelian Cherry Dogwood, Cornus mas, is the most notable edible exception and is distinct from the common flowering Dogwood. This plant produces small, oblong, cherry-red fruits that have been harvested and used in Eastern Europe and Western Asia for centuries.
The fruit of Cornus mas ripens in late summer and is extremely tart when picked, similar to a sour cherry or cranberry. For this reason, the fruits are rarely eaten raw and are instead processed into various culinary products. They are frequently used to make sour jams, jellies, preserves, syrups, and liqueurs, which mitigates their intense tartness. Another species, the Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa), also produces an edible fruit that is sweeter and pulpier than the Cornelian Cherry.