Kousa dogwood
Also known as
Japanese dogwood, Chinese dogwood, Korean dogwood, Yamaboushi
Keep this plant’s care guide close at hand.
Get the appAbout Kousa dogwood
Cornus kousa is a small, deciduous, flowering tree prized for four-season interest and reliable disease resistance. Typically 15–30 ft (4.5–9 m) tall with a similar spread, it develops a graceful, horizontally tiered branching pattern. Opposite, ovate leaves emerge medium green and turn rich crimson, orange, or burgundy in autumn. In late spring to early summer—after the foliage has expanded—it bears showy, star-like “flowers” composed of four pointed, creamy-white to pinkish bracts surrounding a tight cluster of true, greenish flowers. Summer brings abundant, raspberry-like red drupes that are edible and attractive to birds. Bark exfoliates with age into mottled gray, tan, and brown patches, adding winter appeal. Compared with the North American flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), Kousa dogwood tends to be more tolerant of heat, urban conditions, and diseases such as anthracnose and powdery mildew. It thrives in well-drained, slightly acidic soils and is widely used as a specimen, along woodland edges, or in mixed borders.
Taxonomy
Properties & Requirements
How to care for Kousa dogwood
Water
Keep soil consistently moist but never soggy, especially during the first 1–2 years while roots establish. Aim for about 1 inch (25 mm) of water weekly from rain or irrigation, increasing during hot, dry spells. Water deeply and infrequently to encourage deeper rooting—slow soak the root zone rather than frequent light sprinkling. Maintain a 2–3 inch organic mulch layer to reduce evaporation. Once established, Kousa tolerates brief drought but performs best with steady moisture.
Light
Provide full sun to partial shade. In Zones 5–6 or mild-summer areas, full sun (6–8 hours) promotes the heaviest flowering and best fall color. In hotter interiors or Zones 7–8, morning sun with light afternoon shade helps prevent leaf scorch and maintains vigor. Deep shade reduces bloom and form. Ensure good air circulation to limit foliar disease pressure, and avoid sites with intense reflected heat from walls or pavement.
Nutrients
Kousa dogwood is a light feeder. In early spring, apply a thin layer (2–3 in/5–8 cm) of compost or leaf mold as mulch to build organic matter and buffer pH. If growth is weak, use a slow-release, balanced or slightly acid-forming fertilizer at a modest rate once in early spring; avoid late-summer feeding that can spur tender growth before frost. Maintain soil pH slightly acidic and correct alkaline soils with organic amendments or sulfur as needed.
Temperature
Hardy in USDA Zones 5–8, Kousa dogwood tolerates winter lows near −20°F (−29°C). It prefers cool to warm summers but handles heat better than Cornus florida if soil moisture is adequate. In hot-summer regions, protect from reflected heat and provide afternoon shade. Avoid frost pockets; late frosts seldom damage blooms because flowering occurs after leaf-out. Young trunks can sunscald in late winter—use mulch and consider temporary trunk wraps in exposed sites.
