Also known as the Cornelian Cherry, Cornus mas is a deciduous shrub whose leaves turn a beautiful shade of red/purple in the autumn. It’s primarily grown for its small but very profuse clusters of yellow flowers on bare branches in late winter. It’s not a very large shrub, growing to about 3m, so keep pruning to a minimum. It’s a useful plant because it will grow in most soil types and is shade tolerant, although to enjoy the full spectacle of the flowers, a sunny position is best.