Cornus is a remarkably diverse genus, including trees (known as dogwoods) grown for their showy white flowers (actually bracts), shrubs that flower before their leaves appear, other shrubs grown for the colour of their stems in winter, and ground-covering herbaceous perennials. Many have red fruit, which can also be showy. The ones with coloured stems should be pruned close to the ground in late winter.

Cornus mas is also known as the Cornelian cherry and is a vigorous, spreading, deciduous shrub or small tree. Its dark green leaves turn red-purple in autumn, small yellow flowers are produced in late winter before the leaves, and then in late summer there are bright red fruit. A fantastic plant for providing year-round colour.