Cornus kousa Gold Star - Flowering Dogwood

The Cornus kousa 'Gold Star' is a Japanese selection from the last century that retains all its ornamental interest. Its foliage, a beautiful bright green, is adorned with a yellow central macule that makes the bush very decorative, even in the absence of flowering. In autumn, it takes on a bright red colour that makes it an unforgettable spectacle. In spring, graceful white flowers bloom on the foliage, simulating a flight of butterflies. They then produce beautiful red, ornamental, and edible berries, which ripen during a long hot summer. Very hardy, less demanding to grow than its cousin Cornus florida, this beautiful bush undoubtedly deserves to be planted more.

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 Japanese appearance. The botanical species has long been used by breeders to create original horticultural varieties. This is the case with 'Gold Star', introduced in 1977 on the Japanese market by the Sakata Nursery Company, a nursery located in Yokohama, south of Tokyo. This variety was then marketed in the United States from 1983.

'Gold Star' is easily recognised by its variegated bright green foliage. A central macule with slightly irregular contours stretches along the length of the leaf, bordered by tender green in spring, and then becomes more intense in summer. Slow-growing, this bush reaches approximately 1.50m (5ft) in height and 1.25m (4ft) in width in about 10 years, eventually reaching 2.5 to 3m (8 to 10ft) in height and 2 to 2.50m (7 to 8ft) in width, sometimes more. It has a spreading V-shaped habit, very architectural and ornamental. The dense foliage consists of elliptical leaves approximately 10cm (4in) long and 5cm (2in) wide, with visible veins and a slightly satin surface. When autumn arrives, they turn into a beautiful crimson red fireworks display before decorating the ground when they fall.

Spring is the second highlight when "flowers" form in May-June, which are flower heads measuring 10-11cm (4in) in diameter. These are clusters of small true flowers, green, surrounded by four pointed bracts forming a star. Pure white, they last a few weeks after the pollination of the true flowers. With a fairly geometric but very airy design, appearing on the foliage, they evoke a colony of butterflies resting on the plant and spreading their wings in the sun. The flowers are followed by 2.5cm (1in) diameter fruits, red in colour, resembling strawberries. The higher the summer temperatures, the more abundant the fruiting. The fruits are edible, fleshy, with a sweet taste, although they do not have real culinary interest, they enhance the ornamental character of this bush at the end of the season.

Cornus kousa 'Gold Star' thrives in continental climates, with marked summers and winters, but also performs well in milder areas. In hot regions, it should be planted in a sheltered spot away from scorching sun. In a small garden, its multiple attributes fully justify planting it as a standalone tree on a lawn, allowing it to be admired without restraint. In larger plots, it can be paired with other shrubs and perennial plants in a varied plant bed. A caramel tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) planted in the centre of your bed will provide some shade for acid-loving plants that will complement this dogwood well. The small Fothergilla gardenii will fill the base of the dogwood, delighting you with its fragrant white flowers in spring and stunning autumn colours. To further enhance all these colours, plant some dark green evergreen foliage that will contrast beautifully when the time comes. Rhododendrons, Camellias, and Kalmias will offer you magnificent and extended flowering seasons to perfect your garden.