Cornus kousa Akatsuki

The Cornus kousa Akatsuki is a flowering dogwood whose foliage is as ornamental as its blossoms. The leaves emerge purple and then turn green with cream-white variegation during the season. In autumn, they put on a show in shades of pink and purple. The flowering occurs in June, with bracts that start off white and gradually turn pink. They surround a heart made up of the true flowers, which then develop into decorative red fruits at the end of summer. An extremely decorative shrub with attractive colors, from spring to autumn. Guaranteed spectacle for three-quarters of the year!

The Dogwood belongs to the relatively unknown family of Cornaceae, which, after several revisions of botanical classification, now only includes the genera Cornus and Alangium. There are several dozen species of Dogwoods, most of which are shrubs, but there are also small trees in nature, such as Cornus nuttallii, or Cornus kousa, which grows in Japan, China, and Korea. There are also undershrubs, such as Cornus canadensis, which forms a ground cover.

'Akatsuki' is a variety of Japanese Dogwood, obtained by a Japanese breeder through a mutation of Cornus kousa 'Satomi'. It is mainly distinguished by its foliage, which has a beautiful cream-white variegation. Occupying about half of the leaf surface, sometimes more, this light margin surrounds the central part of a fairly dark green. It gives a very bright aspect to the foliage, which will be particularly appreciated in partially shaded situations, creating an attractive focal point. The young leaves first appear purple before taking on their variegated appearance, while pink pigments may develop along the edges during the season.
As is often the case with variegated plants, its growth is slow, due to the limited chlorophyllous areas (the green part of the leaves). In 10 years of cultivation, this shrub will reach a height of 2.50 m and, at maturity, approximately 3 m, with a graphic, tabular habit, almost as wide as it is tall, forming vegetation layers.
In June, the inflorescences appear, typically consisting of a central cluster surrounded by colorful bracts. The cluster is made up of small true flowers tightly packed together, with a yellow-green color. The bracts are transformed leaves, which are often mistaken for flowers because they are ornamental. In Akatsuki, the bracts are ovoid, with a pointed tip, arranged in a cross shape with a total width of 8 cm. Their uniqueness lies in their color, which changes over time. Starting off cream-white, the bracts then gradually accumulate pigments and turn pink with varying intensity, with intermediate stages where both shades coexist. This pink flowering, set against the green and white foliage, offers a superb spectacle that lasts for several weeks. In August, the clusters have evolved into red fruits, which resemble strawberries and can be eaten, although they are more decorative than culinary...
The last highlight of this shrub is in autumn, when the foliage takes on breathtaking colors. The white margin turns pink, while the central green changes to purple. White, green, pink, and purple intertwine for a while before the final climax of warm colors, which precedes the leaf fall.

A shrub for neutral to acidic soil, this Dogwood appreciates humus-rich soils that are moist to wet, while also being well-drained. Resistant to temperatures as low as -20°C, it prefers partial shade, which guarantees better atmospheric humidity. Therefore, even though its great ornamental value would justify planting it as a specimen, it is better to integrate it into a partially shaded bed, under the edge of a tree and in the company of other plants. To extend the flowering period of your scene, plant the Chinese Azalea Lingot d'Or, which will reward you with its large, fragrant, trumpet-shaped yellow flowers in April-May, while its foliage also takes on beautiful colors in autumn. For summer, choose a variety of Hydrangea aspera, an unfairly underplanted Hydrangea with its dark green velvety foliage and bluish flat-headed flowers. However, be aware that it does not tolerate drought, so if your climate is dry in summer, opt for a Hydrangea quercifolia, the Oakleaf Hydrangea, which is more resistant, and you will appreciate the large panicles of generally cream-white flowers, as well as the large leaves, which turn a reddish-purple color in autumn.