Native to china korea and japan cornus officinalis or japanese cornelian cherry is a type of dogwood shrub its green foliage turns to shades of red and purple in autumn and is covered in red berries providing a plentiful food source for garden birds in winter in late winter and early spring beautiful clusters of yellow flowers bloom on the bare stems giving a burst of colour to the garden after the drab and dreary months of winter it is a large deciduous shrub suitable for borders in big