Cornus kousa Milky Way - Flowering Dogwood

Cornus Kousa 'Milky Way' is interesting for its scarlet red foliage in autumn, as well as its impressive flowering with 5cm (2in) diameter flowers.

The Kousa Dogwood 'Milky Way' is a bush with a wide cone shape and cracked bark. The leaves are deciduous, measuring 5 to 8cm (2 - 3.1in) in length, they are ovate with undulate edges, dark green, and turn scarlet red in autumn. Its foliage is very dense. The small green flowers with a diameter of 0.5 to 1cm (0.2 - 0.4in) form clusters surrounded by 4 large white bracts measuring 5cm (2in) in length. Flowering occurs in May-June. At maturity, the cornus can reach a height of 5m (16.4ft). The fruits, which appear in September, resemble strawberries and measure 2.5 to 3cm (1 - 1.2 in) in size.

The foliage is compact and the species is very hardy (-20°C (-4°F), making it suitable for all climates.

It is a very decorative bush in spring for its flowering and in autumn for its beautiful scarlet red foliage. It is interesting as a standalone plant for small gardens, in flower beds, as well as in informal hedges. It can be paired with other bushes in your ericaceous flower beds. It makes a perfect companion for rhododendrons.