Kousa Dogwood

Light Needs

Full Sun

(6+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

20-25 Feet

Mature Spread

20-25 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 8

Dogwood may be one of the most prized spring-blooming trees in a home garden. The large, silky flower bracts indicate that summer is soon to arrive in many parts of North America. Cornus kousa is the Japanese and Korean relative of Cornus florida. Kousa Dogwood is cold hardy and a profuse bloomer, yet is immune to the diseases and pests that afflict the native species. The white flowers bloom later in the spring than Cornus florida and are large even when the tree is young. The foliage is deep green and glossy throughout the growing season, making a wonderful backdrop for any seasonal perennial border or naturalized woodland area. 

Beneficial and native pollinators are drawn to the nectar-filled flowers, while songbirds and small mammals eagerly feed on the brilliantly red fruit late into the fall. Deer are rarely an issue for young Dogwood trees. The deciduous foliage grows well in full sun to part shade and is not susceptible to Anthracnose or powdery mildew like the native type. The fall color of the foliage is quite impressive and will add a fiery blast of color to any landscape. 

Kousa Dogwood Care

The mature height for Kousa Dogwood is 20-25 feet after 10-15 years of growth. Keep this in mind when choosing a planting location, and stay at least 10 feet away from overhead utility lines and building structures. Ensure the soil drains well, even in the winter, and that the pH of the soil is slightly acidic to neutral (5.5 -7.0) for the best foliage color and overall growth. 

Provide about 1 inch of water (natural or supplemental) a week until the tree is established. Watering approximately every 3 days will encourage the roots to grow deeper in the ground, helping the tree tolerate drought and heat when it is mature. Loosely stake the tree only for the first year or two if the location is windy or on a slope. Once the tree has firmly rooted into the ground, remove the stake to prevent future problems. 

Apply a ring of mulch, 2-3 inches thick, using fine arborist chips, shredded leaves, or organic compost over the root zone. Keep the mulch off of the root flare and away from the trunk. 

Pruning is not recommended in the first few years. Only remove any damaged, diseased, diagonal, or dying branches, keeping the cuts as clean as possible. The natural shape of Kousa Dogwood takes a few years to establish, and the younger trees typically have a different canopy shape than mature trees. Pruning out crossing or rubbing branches is best done in late winter before new growth begins. Pruning at this time may remove some flowers, but will improve the long-term health of the tree.

Late in the summer, Cornus kousa produces bright red pairs of fruit that are extremely decorative and well liked by birds and small mammal visitors to your garden. Even though the outside skin is very tough and knobbly, the inside flesh is completely edible for you and your pets. 

Kousa Dogwood Spacing

Ornamental trees grown as single specimens, such as Kousa Dogwood, will need to be spaced a good distance from structures, overhead utilities, driveways, and each other. Space trees 10 feet away from a building or other structure. Shallow-rooted perennials and annuals can be planted within 12 inches of the trunk, although deeper-rooted shrubs should be planted 3 feet away or more to provide enough room for good root establishment.

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