Kousa dogwood

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; give it afternoon shade in hot climates and shelter from drying winds.

Water

Moderate; keep the root zone evenly moist, especially during establishment and summer drought, but never waterlogged.

Soil

Humus-rich, well-drained, acidic to neutral soil. Avoid chalky, strongly alkaline soil and compacted or poorly drained ground.

Height

15-30 ft (4.6-9.1 m)

Spread

15-30 ft (4.6-9.1 m)

Flowers

Late spring to early summer, after the leaves open. Small greenish flowers are surrounded by four pointed white bracts, which may age pink.

Foliage

Opposite, oval, dark green leaves with pointed tips; usually red to purple-red in autumn.

Growth

Slow to moderate; growth is slower in dry soil.

Care needed

Low

• Plant with the root flare at soil level; do not bury the trunk.
• Water deeply during dry spells for the first two growing seasons, and during prolonged drought thereafter.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or a soil test identifies a deficiency.
• Keep digging and lawn equipment away from its shallow roots and thin bark.

Pruning. Prune lightly in late winter while dormant, removing dead, damaged or crossing branches. Preserve the natural layered shape and avoid topping or routine crown reduction.

Late winter

Inspect the branch structure and remove dead, damaged or crossing wood.

Spring

Refresh mulch and check that neither mulch nor soil covers the root flare.

Late spring

Check new leaves for mildew or spotting; water the soil rather than the canopy.

Summer

Water deeply during dry spells, particularly while the tree is establishing.

Autumn

Collect fallen fruit beside paths and remove unwanted seedlings.

Autumn

Plant in mild regions while the soil is workable; in cold regions, wait until spring.

• Use as a lawn specimen where its spreading branches and autumn colour can be seen from the house.
• Place at a woodland edge with ferns, hostas and spring-flowering perennials beneath it.
• Set beside a patio, allowing room for its mature canopy and keeping fruit away from the main walking surface.
• Combine with Japanese maples and restrained evergreen planting in a Japanese-inspired garden.

Garden styles it suits: Japanese, Woodland, Arts and Crafts, English country, Autumn colour and White garden.

Plant it with: Japanese maple, Azalea, Hosta, Epimedium, Japanese painted fern and Snowdrop.

Wildlife: Birds and small mammals eat the ripe fruit, and insects visit the small central flowers. It is native to East Asia, not North America, Britain or Australia.

• Leaf scorch: brown leaf margins usually follow drought, heat or drying winds. Water deeply, mulch and provide afternoon shade in hot sites.
• Poor drainage and root rot: declining growth or dieback can follow prolonged saturation. Correct drainage before planting and avoid overwatering.
• Powdery mildew: a white coating may develop on leaves. Improve airflow, avoid excessive nitrogen and use a locally approved treatment only if damage is substantial.
• Dogwood anthracnose: kousa dogwood is more resistant than flowering dogwood, but not immune. Remove affected twigs and fallen leaves, avoid overhead watering and seek a diagnosis if dieback spreads.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats or dogs. The ripe fruit pulp is edible, but the tough skin and hard seeds are generally discarded; eating much fallen fruit may upset a pet's stomach. Horse-specific safety information is limited, so do not treat it as a fodder tree.

Where it spreads. Can self-seed into woodland and is considered invasive locally in the northeastern United States, including parts of New York. Check regional invasive-plant guidance before planting near natural woodland.

• Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)

  Usually flowers before or as its leaves emerge, with rounded, notched bracts. Kousa flowers after leaf emergence and has pointed bracts.

• Pacific dogwood (Cornus nuttallii)

  Usually has six broad white bracts, though the number varies, and forms clusters of separate red fruits rather than kousa's fused, strawberry-like fruit.

• Evergreen dogwood (Cornus capitata)

  Has leathery, often grey-green leaves that persist in mild climates and typically creamy-yellow bracts. Kousa is deciduous with predominantly white bracts.

The epithet kousa comes from a Japanese name for this tree.

Propagation. Grow the species from cleaned seed; germination can be slow and may require both warm and cold stratification. Named cultivars are usually grafted or budded to preserve their characteristics; cuttings can be difficult to root.

Accepted botanical name

Cornus kousa

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Inner Mongolia, Japan, Korea, Nansei-shoto and Taiwan.

Measured

Average height 690 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.