 Chinese
Dogwood
Cornus kousa --Kousa Dogwood, Japanese Dogwood
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8
Height: 20 ft
Spread: 20 ft
Form: rounded
Type: deciduous tree
Annual Growth Rate: less than 12 inches
Flowers: White
Fruit: Red
Comments: Kousa Dogwood has ornamental flowers, fall color, and
attractive fruit. The white, pointed bracts are produced a month later than those of Flowering Dogwood
(C. florida) and are effective for about a month. The red fruits look like a big round
raspberry, and birds love them. The fall color is red to maroon. Kousa dogwood
has no serious insect or disease problems, and can be used in colder areas where C. florida seems to be marginal.
Cultivars: Entire books have been written about the dogwoods. There are many cultivars to choose from; some are hybrids between C. kousa and C. florida (Flowering Dogwood).
Some of our favorites are listed below.
var. chinensis - The flowers are somewhat larger than the species and the tree may be slightly larger.
var. chinensis 'Milky Way' - A free flowering cultivar.
 
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