Dogwood, Kousa

Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa)

Kousa dogwood extends the dogwood season with pointed, white bracts after the leaves emerge. This East Asian tree also offers mottled mature bark, red-purple fall foliage, and round pink-red fruit in late summer or fall.

Key Characteristics

A Different Kind of Dogwood Fruit

The soft yellow-orange pulp is edible when fully ripe. Texture and flavor vary among trees; the fruit contains hard seeds, so separate the pulp from the seeds before eating or using it. Think of it as an occasional garden fruit alongside the ornamental display, with some left for visiting wildlife.

Plan for Cross-Pollination

Do not rely on a lone tree for a dependable fruit crop. Kousa dogwood is generally self-incompatible, although a little self-set can occur. Use a genetically different Cornus kousa with overlapping bloom if fruit is a priority. A second independent seedling can provide different genetics; another plant of the same named clone does not. An unrelated dogwood species is not a dependable substitute.

Keep an Asian Tree in Context

This species is not native to North America. It provides flowers and fruit in the garden, but the native flowering dogwood has its own local host relationships and restoration role. Kousa is generally less susceptible to dogwood anthracnose than flowering dogwood, while still needing suitable soil and care.

Well-Drained Soil and a Broadening Crown

Choose acidic, well-drained soil with steady establishment moisture. It tolerates some dryness once established but does poorly in waterlogged ground. Allow room for the crown to widen with age; afternoon shade is useful on hot sites.

Product Details

• Origin: East Asia, including China, Korea, and Japan; not a North American native.
• Sun: Full sun to partial shade.
• Soil: Medium moisture, acidic and well-drained.
• Mature height: About 20–30 feet.
• Bloom: May–June locally, generally later than flowering dogwood.
• Hardiness: USDA zones 5–8.
• Fruit: Soft edible pulp around hard seeds; individual flavor and crop vary.

Planting and Ongoing Care

Water the root ball thoroughly at planting, keep mulch away from the trunk or crown, and water through dry spells while roots establish. Check for circling roots before planting and protect the root zone from mowing damage.