What kind of woody plant is Cornus officinalis?

Other names for Cornus officinalis

Cornus officinalis is a traditional Chinese medicine, also known as shanyurou, yaozhao, zaopi, shusuanzao, rouzao, shuzao, jizu, shizao, yurou, yaozhao, tianmuzi, shanyurou, shizao'er.

Morphological characteristics of Cornus officinalis

Cornus officinalis is a deciduous tree or shrub, 4-10 m tall. The bark is grayish brown, with opposite leaves that are ovate-lanceolate or ovate-elliptic; the flowers are small with yellow petals.

Growth habits of Cornus officinalis

Cornus officinalis is a warm-temperate sun-loving tree species. Its optimum growth temperature is 20-30°C, and growth is poor above 35°C. It is highly cold-resistant, can tolerate low temperatures, and grows well.

Cornus officinalis is relatively shade-tolerant but also likes sufficient light. It usually grows well in the middle and lower parts of hillsides, on shady slopes, sunny slopes, in valleys, and on both banks of rivers. It is generally distributed in areas at altitudes of 400-1800 m, with 600-1300 m being more suitable.

Cornus officinalis is best planted in well-drained, fertile sandy loam rich in organic matter. For clay soil, an appropriate amount of river sand should be mixed in to increase drainage and aeration.