PlantFiles: Kousa Dogwood
Cornus kousa

My daughter bought me this plant 5 years ago and we planted it in the front of my house. I love the flowers on this plant but I also had some trouble last year. I thought it was dying because it only had 2 flowers on it and hasn't really grown very much in the last 5 years. However this year it looks great and full of flowers, beautiful!!! It still has a long way to grow but I am glad it is doing better this year. I first saw 2 of these trees in Princeton, NJ, on 206 near a strip mall. That's when I fell in love.....They are both tall and have big beautiful blooms each year. If you're in the neighborhood, check them out....

Regarding the beautiful photo of the Cornus kousa bark from Mongomery County, PA: What is the age of the tree and what are its height/width dimensions?

Jim Robberts
Traverse City, MI

I can't find enough praise for this plant, even if it is an exotic here. I have two plants that are nearly 25 years old. One was trained into a single stem tree and the other was allowed to become a five-trunk shrub. Both plants are now old enough to begin to show their natural bark exfoliation that results in a very pleasant patchwork of putty and green earth tones. Their foliage, flowers bracts, and fruit often show simultaneously (see my image) and give a pleasant 'crazy quilt' appearance. In the fall its foliage will assume a bronze color before it drops. Quite a color spectacle for one plant! Usually our squirrels harvest the ripe fruit before we get a chance. During this year's drought the trees that were deep watered showed less stress than those that received less supplemental water. Also good to remember is that this plant is an understory tree and prefers mostly shade. But if you plant it under another larger tree the larger tree will tend to hog the moisture in the soil. In that situation some additional irrigation may be needed. Other than that it's a carefree tree with a long life expectancy.

I have had 3 of these trees since 2001 and when they bloom they are lovely and long lasting with the flower starting out green, brightening to a creamy white and then fading to pink. However, flowering seems finicky and I have not figured out why it does/does not bloom.

I planted two of these trees in my yard early this spring. They are in an area with light shade part of the day, and I was careful to plant them with good soil, etc. But only one is showing signs of life! One has beautiful baby leaves budding all over. The other has crispy brown stubs that look like they started to come out, then died when they saw daylight.

I am not sure if the sad one is totally dead, or if I just need to be patient another month. I'll upload some pics to illustrate.

For gardeners living in coastal zone 5, this plant will perform far better than Cornus florida. It grows quite well in southern Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.

Good small tree for flowers, fruit and winter interest. The bark on mature specimens is beautiful and adds much interest to the winter landscape. The flowers bloom later when many people are outdoors to enjoy the display.

I have a Kousa that was planted for me four years ago. Last year it was covered with blooms; however this year, there is not a single bloom on it...has anyone else had such an experience? So far I love the tree, but am perplexed by the sudden lack of blooms!

I prefer the Kousa to my native Cornus Florida. The flowers are longer lasting and appear after the spring rush. Mine are sensitive to drought but well worth the watering here in S.Ontario. Easily obtained here.

The true flowers of this species are small; the bracts surrounding the flowers remain for many weeks, gradually changing color from white to pink. Highly garden-worthy replacement for those unable to grow Cornus florida. Many cultivars available; new ones are introduced every year.

THE TREE--A smallish tree, growing best in part sun. Most of the variety I have seen are no more thant 15 - 20 feet in height. However, I have seen a large old specimen in Pennsylvania that was probably 40 or 50 feet tall. Unlike the Cornus Florida, its flowers come out after the tree has begun to leaf out.

DISEASE RESISTANCE--Apparently resistant to the anthracnose that has begun to devastate the Cornus Florida. The Cornus Kousa is a wonderful tree to replace the Cornus Florida. One might plant one very nearby a diseased Cornus Florida and then remove the latter when it dwindles to the point of becoming an eyesore.

FRUIT--The fruit is of the size and color of a red raspberry, and is in color in August and September in the Washington, DC, area. I have a seedling about 15 feet tall. The fruit on mine is largely seedless. It is sweet, pleasant, and has a flavor and texture similar to that of a pear. I have noticed no reaction when I have tasted it. I have yet to cook it up. I expect that it would make a flavorful sauce or a delicate jam. Because of its delicate flavor, I would make either a freezer jam or cook it with pectin.