NAME:  Himalayan Dogwood

OTHER COMMON NAMES:  Himalayan Strawberry Tree / Evergreen Dogwood / Bentham's Cornel / Himalayan Flowering Dogwood

SCIENTIFIC NAME:  Cornus Capitata syn. Benthamida Capitata / Benthamida Fragifera / Dendrobenthamia Capitata

COLOR:  White - Pink Flowers / Red Fruit

PLANT SEEDS:  Fall Sow / Cold Stratify

BLOOM TIME:  June - July

HARVEST:  Sept - Nov

HARDINESS ZONE:   7 - 10

PLANT HEIGHT:   20 - 40'

PLANT SPACING:   20 - 40'

LIGHT REQUIREMENTS:   Sun - Part Shade

SOIL & WATER PREFERENCES:   Average

QUANTITY:  20 Seeds

OTHER:   Himalayan Dogwoods are a lovely ornamental flowering tree that also produces attractive edible fruit. They are native to the Himalayas & surrounding areas, & have also been naturalized in Australia, New Zealand, & more. Fragrant flowers cover the tree in spring, blooming in lovely shades of white changing to pink. As the summer heats up, the flowers turn into pinkish red 1” fruits that mature by fall. The fruit grows in clusters of roundish bumpy fruits that appear similar to strawberries, hence their other name Himalayan Strawberry Tree. The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked, made into preserves, used in pies, & more. They range somewhere between bitter & sweet & are said to taste something like an over-ripe banana. Birds love to eat them!

The Himalayan Dogwood is evergreen to semi-evergreen, & its large thick 5” leaves are fuzzy on the underside. Green in the summer, they turn lovely shades of bronze, red, & purple in the fall. The trees are able to tolerate coastal conditions, & are not too picky about their soil. They are able to grow in sandy or heavier clay soils. They grow fairly quickly, averaging about 3’ a year, & are deer resistant.