How many years does it take for Dogwood to bear fruit?

Dogwood is a deciduous tree or shrub belonging to the family Cornaceae. Its fruits, leaves, roots and other parts have different medicinal values. It is a common Chinese medicinal material with broad planting prospects. So how many years does it take for Dogwood to bear fruit? Let’s learn more about it below.

How many years does it take for Dogwood to bear fruit?

The fruiting time of Cornus officinalis varies depending on the propagation method and growth environment. Generally speaking, it takes about 4 years for Cornus officinalis (seedlings) to bear fruit after planting. For Cornus officinalis propagated by grafted seedlings, the fruiting period can be shortened to 2-3 years.

How to graft Dogwood?

1. Rootstock selection

Choose strong, disease- and insect-free Cornus officinalis seedlings with strong affinity as rootstocks. It is best to use one or two year old rootstocks with a ground stem of 0.6 cm to 1 cm.

2. Scion selection

One-year-old branches with full development and plump buds are collected as scion from high-quality mother trees with high yield, strong growth and no diseases or insect pests.

3. Grafting time

Grafting is generally carried out in March and April, when the plants have stronger growth vigor, which is conducive to their survival after grafting.

4. Grafting method

Commonly used grafting methods include bark grafting and bud grafting. Bark grafting is to cut the rootstock, flatten the cut, and then make a cut on the windward side to a depth that reaches the wood. Cut the scion into appropriate length, cut it into an oblique surface to expose the cambium, then insert it into the cut of the rootstock and tie the interface with plastic film. Bud grafting is to carve a piece of bark of the rootstock that is the same size as the bud block, then embed the bud block to be grafted, tie it tightly with plastic film , and expose the grafted bud.

5. Management after grafting

(1) After grafting, the interface should be tightly wrapped with plastic film or grafting membrane in time to maintain the humidity and temperature of the grafted site and promote healing.

(2) When the grafted seedlings have healed, the wrapping should be removed promptly to avoid affecting the growth of the grafted area. After untying, the grafted seedlings should be fixed in time with a bracket or rope to prevent wind or human damage.

(3) Pay attention to timely watering, fertilizing, weeding, and prevention and control of pests and diseases to ensure the healthy growth of the grafted seedlings.



In general, the fruiting time of Cornus officinalis depends on many factors, and it can usually be shortened through grafting. Pay attention to mastering the method of grafting propagation to improve both propagation efficiency and seedling quality.