Cornus mas

Cornus mas, the cornelian cherry, grows wild across central and southern Europe into western Asia, where it has long been valued for its fruit as much as its flowers. In the garden it builds slowly into a dense, twiggy shrub, opening its tiny yellow clusters on bare wood while winter still holds.

Little intervention is needed. It sits in pruning group one, so any shaping is best done straight after flowering, before the fruit sets. The red fruits are edible and sharp, good for jellies if the birds leave you any. Give it time, as flowering can be shy for the first few years after planting.