Red Stone Cornelian Cherry Seeds

currently unavailable This Arnold Arboretum selection of cornelian cherry combines both a better flavor profile of the cornelian cherry as well as a free stone type that can be eaten fresh off the tree.  I have found this seed source to be highly productive with slightly larger fruit on very precocious plants. When my employees use to harvest these, they actually liked them fresh. In general most were skeptical of the cornelian cherry and only nibbled a little bit. These appear to have less of the ascorbic and tartaric acid taste especially when fully ripe. When I planted them over a decade ago, I also used other types known for less acidic fruit. This appeared in the progeny as well.

The shade tolerance of the cornelian cherry as well as it frost resistant blossoms makes it a useful edible landscape tree. One of the best acidic sour cherry like fruits with zero problems with insects and diseases. Since the flowers are so frost resistant, I kept track of flowering times for many years to see the level of resistance. One year I saw several plants in town flower at the end of February. Not a problem. At my farm several times the plants were in full blossom in early to mid March. Not a problem. There might some limits on this, but I do not know where they are!!!

To germinate the seeds: Tough little dudes with three embryos in one seed, the seed can be planted outside in a protected pot  or prop tray so the seeds can go through their two year cycle to germinate. Cold Warm and then Cold again will germinate a portion of the seeds in the second year. Having them outside makes this much easier plus the seed is naturally scarred by the bacterial action of the soil. Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep. Most of the time, the rodents seem to not find or eat them if buried deep enough. The seeds are incredibly durable and can be dried stored for a long time before using as well. If using the refrigerator method, then do the normal 90 day cold and then warm periods to break dormancy in the second year.