Kousa Dogwood Cornus kousa
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KOR-nus KOO-sa
- Description
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The Kousa dogwood is a handsome, small- to medium-sized tree reaching a mature height of 30 feet. Sometimes referred to as the Chinese dogwood, this Asian cousin to our native flowering dogwood can be used as a specimen plant or in shrub borders.
Depending on the age of the Kousa dogwood, the trees take on a different appearance. Young trees grow in an upright fashion and in somewhat of a conical shape. They are vase-shaped in their youth. As a Kousa matures, it develops more horizontal branching, rounded form, and becomes more wide-spreading. This tree does better in open areas like lawns than the native trees do but is prefers some light shade especially in the afternoon. It prefers well-drained acidic soil and while it tolerates some dry soil it will not survive in water-logged environments. It has shallow roots so does not like to be transplanted. If necessary transplant in the early spring.
Our native dogwoods bloom in April, while the Kousa dogwoods flower nearly a month later. A tree for all seasons, the Kousa dogwood has berries that resemble raspberry fruit in autumn, and the peeling bark on the mature tree trunks gives the bark an attractive mottled appearance. It truly has year-round interest.
The soil should be well-drained but moist. Resistant to anthracnose, this tree (which is a great addition to many Carolina landscapes) is also mildly resistant to damage by deer. Don’t let this opportunity to plant a real showstopper pass you by!
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Calico scale, dogwood borer, dogwood sawfly, Japanese maple scale, leafhoppers, oyster shell scale. Leaf and flower blight (botrytis), crown canker, bacterial leaf scorch, powdery mildew, septoria leaf spot. Dropped fruits can ferment and attract yellow jackets. Underneath the tree seedlings sprout prolifically and can be weedy.
Quick ID Hints:
- Creamy, white bracts - 4 pointed
- Fruit in fall is reddish syncarp
- Distance between veins changes towards apex
- lateral veins evenly spaced except large gap to upper pair
Small, deciduous tree - to 20-30' tall and wide.
Blooms in early summer. Fruit appears in fall. Fall leaf color reddish-purple to scarlet, lasts 3-5 weeks. Pest and disease free. Slow growth rate. Easily transplanted when young.
Prefers acid, well-drained soil, sunny location but tolerant of moderate shade, more resistant to drought problems than C. florida.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cottage Style Foundation Planting
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Angustata'
- 'Blue Shadow'
- 'Gold Cup'
- 'Gold Star'
- 'Greensleeves'
- 'Milky Way'
- 'Milky Way Select'
Interesting bark, amazing fall color - 'Samaritan'
Upright, single trunk, variegated leaves - 'Satomi'
- 'Summer Fun'
- 'Variegata'
- 'Wolf Eyes'
- 'Angustata'
- 'Angustata', 'Blue Shadow', 'Gold Cup', 'Gold Star', 'Greensleeves', 'Milky Way', 'Milky Way Select', 'Samaritan', 'Satomi', 'Summer Fun', 'Variegata', 'Wolf Eyes'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Angustata'
- 'Blue Shadow'
- 'Gold Cup'
- 'Gold Star'
- 'Greensleeves'
- 'Milky Way'
- 'Milky Way Select'
Interesting bark, amazing fall color - 'Samaritan'
Upright, single trunk, variegated leaves - 'Satomi'
- 'Summer Fun'
- 'Variegata'
- 'Wolf Eyes'
- 'Angustata'
- 'Angustata', 'Blue Shadow', 'Gold Cup', 'Gold Star', 'Greensleeves', 'Milky Way', 'Milky Way Select', 'Samaritan', 'Satomi', 'Summer Fun', 'Variegata', 'Wolf Eyes'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cornus
- Species:
- kousa
- Family:
- Cornaceae
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Sikkim, China to Temp. Eastern Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits and nesting sites attractive to songbirds. Squirrels eat fruits as well. Members of the genus Cornus support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Gonandrena) fragilis, Andrena (Gonandrena) integra, and Andrena (Gonandrena) platyparia.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Resistant to anthracnose and blights that native dogwoods are susceptible to. Mildly resistant to deer damage
- Edibility:
- Fruits are technically edible but are usually left for the birds.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Horizontal
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- This plant has globular, pinkish-red to red fruit in late summer (though on 'Greensleeves,' fruit can be green at some points and a little pointy). The Kousa dogwood has berries that resemble raspberry fruit in autumn. ½-1" diameter reddish syncarp hanging on a 2" long stalk.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- This plant has 2-4 in. white or pink tapered bracts. Flowers appear before leaves and bloom about 2-3 weeks after C. florida. They bloom around May (late spring) and into June. Showy part is 4 creamy, white pointed bracts. Actual flowers are inconspicuous.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- This plant has 2-4 in. long 1/4"-1 3/4" wide, opposite, simple, and dark green leaves that have a reddish-purple to scarlet fall color. Cornus kousa 'Greensleeves has glossy, slightly wavy, green leaves that are pointed at the ends. For Cornus kousa 'Greensleeves, the top of the leaf's venation is a yellowish-green which makes the venation obvious against the glossy green leaf; for Cornus kousa 'Greensleeves, the leaf's underside is a lighter green color than on top and the venation is prominent sticking out slightly and being a pale-green. The margins are entire and the base is cuneate with an acuminate apex. Elliptical/ovate, 2-4" long, 1-2" wide, acuminate, dark green above, glaucous below with yellowish tufts of hair. Distance between veins changes towards apex.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- The peeling brown bark on the mature tree trunks gives the bark an attractive mottled appearance. Looks espeically attractive if under light in the evening to take advantage of the exfoliating bark. Exfoliates with age, mottled gray/tan
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
