Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa): Four-Season Star for Small Landscapes

Flowering dogwood gets the fame, but Kousa dogwood delivers more: later blooms, longer show, stunning fall color, exfoliating bark, and—crucially—resistance to anthracnose and borer. For zones 5–8, it's the smarter dogwood.

Seasonal Highlights

• Spring (May–Jun): White "flowers" (actually 4 showy bracts) 2–4" wide, pointed tips. Bloom 2–3 wks after C. florida. Last 4–6 weeks.
• Summer: Deep green foliage. Raspberry-like red fruit (1")—edible, sweet, mealy. Birds love them.
• Fall: Brilliant yellow-orange to red-purple. Multi-week display.
• Winter: Exfoliating bark—gray, tan, brown puzzle pieces. Horizontal tiered branching = architectural sculpture.

Form & Size

Small tree / large shrub. 20–30' tall, equal spread. Vase-shaped youth → rounded maturity. Low branching unless trained to single trunk. Shallow, non-invasive roots.

Culture

• Sun: Full sun to part shade. More sun = more flowers/fruit.
• Soil: Well-drained, acidic to neutral. No wet feet.
• Water: Consistent moisture first 2 yrs. Drought-tolerant once established.
• Pruning: Minimal. Remove dead/crossing wood winter. Shape young if single-trunk desired.
• Pests/Diseases: Highly resistant to dogwood anthracnose & borer. Occasional leaf spot, powdery mildew.

Landscape Placement

• Specimen lawn tree (view from all sides).
• Woodland edge (dappled shade).
• Patio/courtyard (non-invasive roots).
• Property border (grouped for screening).
• Under power lines (mature height safe).

Varieties Worth Seeking

'Milky Way' (heavy bloom), 'Satomi' (pink bracts), 'Wolf Eyes' (variegated), 'Greensleeves' (green-tinted bracts), 'National' (large, vigorous).

Plant Kousa where you'll watch the seasons turn. It repays attention with year-round elegance—and none of the heartbreak of its troubled cousin.