
Light Needs

Mature Height

Mature Spread

Growing Zones
The Milky Way Dogwood provides visual interest throughout the year, making this a wonderful plant to feature in a landscape. This summer-blooming shrub features four-petal cream-white blooms; each petal comes to a point. The flowers emerge in mid-June, and in no time, the entire plant will be covered in blooms. The shrub is covered in bright red fruit that complements the dramatic purple-red fall foliage in the fall. The Cornus kousa Milky Way is deciduous, but when the foliage drops, the mottled trunk and branches that have a camouflage-like look will be on display.
This plant has an upright growth habit and grows as a perennial in USDA zones 5 through 8. Use the Milky Way Dogwood in borders or as a specimen planting. This large plant will reach 20 to 25 feet tall and grow just as wide, so it needs plenty of space. The berries are a food source for birds, so there will be a lot of activity around the plant in the fall.
Milky Way Dogwood Care
Plant the Milky Way Dogwood in full sun to partial shade. Use moist, rich, well-drained soil that is acidic to neutral. Water this Dogwood when the top several inches of soil dry out. The Milky Way Dogwood is drought-tolerant, but keeping up with a regular water routine, especially during a dry spell, will keep the plant lush and healthy.
Top-dress the ground with organic compost each spring to provide an extra nutritional boost. The plant naturally maintains a good shape, so pruning is unnecessary, but remove dead or damaged growth as needed.
Milky Way Dogwood Spacing
This upright plant will grow 20 to 25 feet tall and equally wide. Space the Milky Way Dogwood 14 to 18 feet apart from other Dogwoods when creating a row. The plants should be placed about 14 feet from buildings or other large trees.
Milky Way Dogwood Information
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 - 8 |
Plant Type: Trees |
Light Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Sun (At Least 3 Hours Of Direct Sunlight) |
Mature Height: 20 - 25 Feet |
Mature Spread: 20 - 25 Feet |
Spacing: 20 - 25 Feet |
Habit: Upright |
Flower Color(s): White |
Flower Description: |
Bloom Period: Summer |
Foliage Type: Deciduous |
Foliage Color(s): Green |
Foliage Description: purple-Red Fall Foliage |
Seasonal Interest: Summer Flowering |
Watering: Average |
Resists: Deer |
Tolerates: Heat |
Attracts: Birds, Butterflies |
Container Role: |
Uses: Specimen or Focal Point, Wildlife Gardens |
Features: Attracts Pollinators, Foliage Interest |
Brand: |
Common Name: Milky Way Dogwood |
Other Name(s): |
Scientific Name: CORNUS KOUSA `MILKY WAY` |
- SKU:
- 1231001707-pc
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.

Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts

Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts

Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts

Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons

Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons

Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons

We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2025 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.

Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
---|---|
Zone 10 | March 31th |
Zone 9 | March 31st |
Zone 8 | April 7th |
Zone 7 | April 14th |
Zone 6b | April 21st |
Zone 6a | April 28th |
Zone 5b | May 5th |
Zone 5a | May 12th |
Zone 4 | May 19th |
Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: Idaho, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!