Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa)

The fragrance garden is divided into four rectangles, each anchored by a Kousa Dogwood. This is a cousin of our native Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida). The Kousa Dogwood has a dark green leaf that turns scarlet or purplish-red in the fall. The attractive bark is mottled gray, tan, and brown and exfoliates when mature. It is vase-shaped in youth and spreads horizontally with age. Unlike the Flowering Dogwood which blooms before the leaves come out, the Kousa Dogwood blooms in May to June after the leaves are out. The flowers are actually four white bracts that are held above the foliage, making them very showy. In late summer and fall this dogwood produces a half inch pinkish drupe that is edible, but not very tasty. The Kousa Dogwood grows 15 to 25 feet tall and wide, making it a great size for the home landscape. It prefers full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained, organic and acidic soil. It has no serious pests or diseases. The Kousa Dogwood is native to Japan, Korea, and China, but it does very well here. It is not bothered by the pests and diseases that are attacking our native Flowering Dogwood and is more cold tolerant. In spring and early summer it has beautiful foliage and showy flowers. Late summer brings attractive fruits. The foliage is lustrous all summer and has good fall color. And winter reveals its pretty bark and lovely low-branching, horizontal lines. There are many cultivars of this handsome tree. It's a great small tree for the home landscape.