Kousa Dogwood — Cornus kousa

Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa) offers a long season of interest with showy white bracts, ornamental fruit and reddish-purple fall foliage. Its star-like, four-part bracts appear in late spring to early summer, creating a bright display above the green leaves.

Round fruits develop green in summer and ripen to pink-red by late summer, attracting birds. This East Asian flowering tree makes a focal point in borders, woodland gardens and spacious foundation plantings.

Growing details

• Plant type: Deciduous flowering tree
• Origin: East Asia
• Listed height: 20–30 feet
• Listed spread: 15–30 feet
• Spacing: Approximately 22 feet apart
• USDA hardiness zones: 5–8
• Light: Full sun to part sun
• Soil: Moist and well-drained
• Flower display: Showy white bracts in late spring to early summer
• Fruit: Round, pink-red ornamental fruit in late summer
• Fall foliage: Reddish-purple

Care and garden use

This low-maintenance tree prefers consistent soil moisture with good drainage. Watch for leaf scorch in full sun. Remove fallen fruit promptly to avoid attracting yellow jackets, and allow room for its listed mature canopy.

Use as a specimen, in grouped plantings, along borders or in woodland gardens. Sites near ponds or streams should still provide good drainage. Pair with maple, beautyberry or mahonia where growing conditions suit each plant.

Plants naturally vary in appearance and may differ from the images shown.