Cornus kousa - Flowering Dogwood

Cornus kousa, or Japanese dogwood, is a small tree or large bush that is highly ornamental with its abundant and generous pure white flowering in spring and the vibrant colours of its autumn foliage. It has a spread-out habit with beautiful branches that develop horizontally in distinct layers, giving it an oriental style that would be especially highlighted by planting it in isolation or in a mass planting alongside other acid-loving shrubs in a Japanese garden.

In April-May, the solitary flowers bear four large, thick, snow-white bracts arranged in flat stars, creating luminous carpets on sumptuous, shiny, dark green foliage that turns orange and then scarlet-red before falling in winter. Sturdy and easy to grow, it is a perfect choice for a partially shaded corner in cool, rich, deep, well-drained, and lime-free soil.

Cornus kousa is native to Japan, China, and Korea. Its striking silhouette, supported by layered and horizontal branches, gives it a very Japanese look. This species has a spreading habit, reaching about 6 m (19.7 ft) in height and 4 m (13.1 ft) in width after many years. Despite its slow growth, it is a sturdy and easy-to-grow shrub as long as it enjoys morning or evening sun that is not too scorching, and a well-drained, preferably fertile soil without lime.

Flowering takes place in May-June, even on plants aged 3 to 4 years. The bush is adorned with a multitude of large 'flowers', which are actually inflorescences. These are clusters of small true flowers, surrounded by 4 oval bracts with particularly pointed tips, arranged in star shapes, and pure white in colour. The flowers are arranged on the tree as if they were resting on the foliage. The flowers are followed by numerous, good-sized fruits, ranging in colour from pink to carmine-red. The fruits resemble strawberries. The higher the summer temperatures, the more abundant the fruiting. The fruits are edible, fleshy, with a sweet flavour, and add charm to this large shrub at the end of the season. The shrub has shiny dark green deciduous foliage that turns orange and then scarlet-red in autumn. The leaves are ovate, strongly veined, slightly closed, somewhat undulate along the edges, and they hang down. They measure between 5 cm and 8 cm (2 in to 3.1 in) long and are arranged opposite each other along the branches.

Cornus kousa thrives in continental climates, with marked summers and winters, but it also performs well in milder areas. In hot regions, it should be planted in a spot protected from the scorching sun, in consistently moist soil. It is still rare in gardens but very easy to grow once it has been carefully planted. It alone is a beautiful attraction and deserves to be planted in isolation, standing out in the middle of a lawn, for example. It will also be advantageous at the back of a bed composed of acid-loving plants or shrubs with staggered flowering or evergreen foliage. Plant it with, for example, oakleaf or paniculate hydrangeas, Japanese maples with purple foliage, snowberries, a Cercis, a Fothergilla, or a Tetradium daniellii, the bee tree.