Red dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), also known as blood-red dogwood, beautiful-flowering dogwood or hornbush, is a three to five meter high shrub with characteristic red branches. The widespread shrub shows its flat, white flower umbels in the months of May to June, from which small, black drupes develop by autumn. Many an uninformed collector confuses the dogwood with elderberry.
Is the red dogwood poisonous?
The red dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) is only slightly poisonous to humans. Its substance cornin can cause mild stomach pain and diarrhea if leaves, bark or roots are consumed. The raw fruits are inedible, but when cooked they can be used for juice or jam.
Dogwood is only slightly toxic to humans
Both in the leaves and the bark, but also in the roots, there is the substance cornin, which is slightly toxic to humans and can cause diarrhea and stomach pain, especially in children if consumed. According to information from the information center against poisoning at the University Hospital of Bonn, the fruits of the red dogwood are not poisonous when raw, but are inedible. However, when cooked they could be made into fruit juice or jam. The hairy leaves, which are coated with calcium carbonate, can cause rashes in sensitive people when touched.
Tip
Red dogwood is an important pasture for bees, and its fruits also serve as a food source for many wild birds. The plant is only dangerous for small pets such as guinea pigs, hamsters or rabbits.
