Cornus kousa
The Kousa Dogwood is a small to medium ornamental tree, highly prized in landscaping for its spectacular and prolonged spring flowering. What are popularly considered white petals are actually pointed, modified bracts surrounding the tiny true flowers at the center. Its elegant habit, initially upright and then spreading, along with its glossy green foliage, makes it a perfect centerpiece for home gardens and urban parks.
Belonging to the Cornaceae family, it is native to the temperate regions of East Asia, where it naturally grows in forests and on mountain slopes. It is distinguished from other common dogwoods by its pointed bracts and by possessing greater genetic resistance to serious fungal diseases such as anthracnose. It is a deciduous species that prefers well-drained soils, rich in organic matter, and with a slightly acidic pH.
In addition to its undeniable aesthetic value during spring, this tree offers visual interest throughout the year. In autumn, it produces globose, bright red fruits that are edible and have a sweet flavor reminiscent of peach. Its leaves turn striking reddish and purple hues before falling, and its bark tends to exfoliate with maturity, revealing patches of different colors that decorate the trunk during winter.
2-3 times per week, keeping soil moist but not waterlogged.
Full sun or partial shade; more blooms with good exposure.
Tolerates down to -15°C; ideal for temperate climates.
Rich, well-drained soil, with acidic to neutral pH.
Balanced fertilizer in early spring before sprouting.
Examples shared by the community when the plant was in bloom
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