Native to Asia, the Japanese dogwood or Cornus kousa, is a slow-growing bush that can easily reach 5 metres in height in our gardens. There are numerous cultivars available, with flowers in cream white, pink, pure white, or greenish hues, and bracts that are more or less rounded. In bloom throughout June until mid-July, this Cornus does not go unnoticed, especially as it fruits at the end of the season, producing fruits resembling strawberries (in size and colour).
Cornus kousa Milky Way, in June
Many consider the Japanese dogwood, this rare bush, too complicated, frost-sensitive, and suited only for knowledgeable gardeners. Not at all... it can be compared in cultivation to Asian magnolias:
It prefers:
- Rich, preferably acidic, deep soils rich in humus.
- Well-drained soils that remain moist in summer but never waterlogged in winter.
- A warm, slightly shaded exposure to the south or west, but without scorching sun, especially in continental climates.
Cornus kousa, in fruit
If all these conditions are met, it can be grown anywhere in France, although it prefers oceanic, mild, and cool climates. Like magnolias, it withstands cold well, being resistant down to -20°C or even lower. However, frost can damage flower buds and completely suppress flowering in some years, but it does not kill the bush!
Plant it in hedges or as a specimen. in any good acidic garden soil, but definitely not alkaline. Add an organic fertiliser rich in phosphorus to the bottom of the planting hole. Mix a good third of leaf compost with your garden soil and plant the root ball level with the collar, ensuring it is moist. Water generously to settle the soil and apply a mulch layer 10cm thick at the base to retain moisture and reduce the need for watering during the first year.
Cornus kousa 'Satomi', one of the few species with pink flowers
In oceanic climates, planting can take place from mid-February to mid-May and from September to November. In continental climates, it is best to plant in spring, from mid-March to mid-May.
And after that? You will need to wait about ten years to fully enjoy the spectacle, but what a spectacle it will be!
Cornus kousa 'Milky Way'
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