Cornus kousa Satomi - Flowering Dogwood

The Cornus kousa 'Satomi' is a very beautiful variety of Japanese dogwood, remarkable for its dazzling flowering with large pale pink bracts, its brilliant autumn colours and its beautiful layered habit. It will also bear pretty round and fleshy berries resembling strawberries, which will ripen in a long hot summer. Very hardy and less difficult to grow than its cousin Cornus florida, this very beautiful bush undoubtedly deserves to be planted more, even in a small garden. Give it a prominent place, preferably in partial shade and in non-chalky soil, in a large shrub border.

Cornus kousa is a small tree or large bush, native to Japan, China and Korea. Its architectural silhouette, supported by layered and horizontal branches, gives it a very Japanese look. 'Satomi' is a Japanese horticultural creation dating back to 1986, credited by Akira Shibamichi. This cultivar grows slowly but it is capable of reaching 3.50m (11ft 6in) to 4m (13ft) in height and 2.50m (8ft 2in) to 3m (9ft 10in) in spread after many years. It can withstand temperatures as low as -20°C (-4°F).

The Cornus kousa 'Satomi' is a tree with a broadly conical habit and compact, dense growth with a decorative cracked bark. Its leaves are deciduous, appearing in spring and falling in autumn. With an ovate shape and undulate edges, they measure 5 to 8cm (2 to 3.1in) in length. They are dark green until late summer, then they turn scarlet-red in autumn. It blooms abundantly in May-June depending on the climate. Its flowering takes the form of tiny green flowers measuring 0.5 to 1cm (0.4in) in diameter, grouped in clusters at the centre of 4 large pink bracts that make up a false flower with a diameter of 8 to 10cm (3.9in). Some fleshy dark red fruits appear in September which resemble strawberries and measure 2.5 to 3cm (1.2in) in length. While they are edible and have a sweet taste, their flesh does not have any real culinary interest. But they enhance the charm of this very beautiful bush at the end of the season.

The Cornus kousa 'Satomi' thrives in continental climates, with distinct summers and winters, but also performs well in milder areas. In hot regions, it should be planted in a sheltered spot away from the scorching sun. It is a very decorative dogwood in spring with its pink flowering, and in autumn with its beautiful scarlet foliage. It is interesting to plant it as a specimen in a small garden, in a shrub border, or even as a natural hedge if you have a bit more space. It can be combined with other shrubs that appreciate the same acidic conditions. It makes a perfect companion for rhododendrons, large Chinese azaleas, hydrangeas, Japanese maples and other kalmias.