Cornus hongkongensis - Hong Kong Dogwood

Cornus hongkongensis is a splendid evergreen bush, with a lovely growth habit. A rare plant, it possesses multiple ornamental qualities! Not only does it display superb glossy green foliage, which turns to sumptuous autumn colours of orange and purple, but it also exhibits a beautiful striated beige bark with white furrows. Very floriferous, it is covered with a multitude of creamy-white, fragrant flowers in summer, followed by pretty red fruits. A remarkable four-season bush.

Cornus hongkongensis, the Hong Kong Dogwood, belongs to the Cornaceae family. It is related to Cornus kousa and has recently been introduced to Europe. It is native to southern China, Laos, and Vietnam, where it grows in deciduous forests, between 600 m and 1800 m (5905.5 ft) in altitude. It forms a small, vigorous, fast-growing tree with a shrubby and slender habit, and its beige bark, traversed by white furrows, is very decorative in winter. It measures 3 to 5 m (9.8 ft to 16.4 ft) in height with a spread of about 3 m (9.8 ft). Its dense evergreen foliage is composed of 8 cm (3.1 in) long, oval and pointed, leathery, shiny leaves. The young leaves are tinged with purple, then the foliage becomes bright green, beautifully colouring from orange to brown-purple in autumn. In June-July, this Cornus is covered with a multitude of fragrant flowers, surrounded by four large waxen creamy-white bracts. Spectacular fruiting occurs in September-October, with the appearance of granulose red spherical fruits appear. The berries are comparable to strawberries.

This robust and quite hardy Hong Kong Dogwood, is happy in both partial shade and sun, with a preference for a sheltered exposure from cold winds. It likes any good fresh garden soil. An ornamental bush par excellence, it will make a beautiful specimen when planted in isolation. It can also be incorporated into the composition of a mixed hedge, where its summer flowering as well as its beautiful foliage will work wonders. It will integrate perfectly into a shrub border, alongside other bushes or small trees.