Kousa Dogwood | Guide & Tips

The White Kousa Dogwood shows off in spring with a stunning and abundant floral display. The pretty green leaves highlight the lovely four bract flowers. In fall the show goes on with reddish purple autumn foliage. In its youth this dogwood has a vase shape but as it matures the canopy becomes rounded. At 20 to 30 feet tall and wide at maturity this flowering tree is small enough to fit in most landscapes, but large enough to offer shade for most of the year. 

Kousa Dogwood

• The White Kousa Dogwood is native to Japan and China while the Flowering Dogwood is native to the eastern United States.

• The Kousa Dogwood is more disease, pest, and deer resistant.

• Cornus kousa is considered more cold hardy than Cornus florida, but the native flowering dogwood is more heat tolerant. Zone 5 is the recommended coldest zone for both trees, but the Kousa is less likely to experience damaged buds or blooms because it blooms a few weeks later than the native dogwood. The kousa is recommended to a zone 8b where the florida can grow into a balmy 9b.

• The Kousa Dogwood has a larger fruit that is edible. A quick internet search will offer recipes for jams, muffins, pies and more. This unique fruit is rich in antioxidants especially vitamin C.

Kousa Dogwood Care

Location

Kousa Dogwoods like full sun to part shade and soil that is well-drained, acidic, and nutrient rich.

Water

Once established, dogwood trees are drought tolerant. In extended dry and hot periods this tree will benefit from a weekly deep watering.

Food

Fertilize your dogwood tree in early spring for best performance. Choose a balanced slow release fertilizer.

Mulch

Mulch your dogwood tree with 1 to 2 inches of mulch extended at least a few inches past the root zone. Mulch helps the ground retain moisture,  keeps competing weeds at bay and protects the dogwood’s shallow roots. Do not pile up mulch against the trunk. This can cause moisture to get trapped and invite pests and diseases to damage your tree

Pruning

Dogwoods don't generally require pruning, but if needed, prune in late fall or early winter when the tree is dormant.

Kousa Dogwood in the Landscape

The White Kousa Dogwood is a lovely flowering tree to add to your landscape. It also functions as a shade tree.

The roots of the Kousa Dogwood are non-invasive so they are great for planting near homes, pools, driveways, and sidewalks with no fear of issues.

This dogwood is a standout as a focal tree in your front yard.

Adaptable to sun or shade this tree fits wherever you want it to go.

Check out our selection of Dogwood Trees and Flowering Trees for more options.