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CORNUS kousa
Commonly known as Japanese dogwood
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DeciduousWavy-margined, dark-green leaves to 8cm (3in) long turn deep crimson-purple in autumn.
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WhiteFlushed pink
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Height7m (23ft)
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Spread5m (16ft)
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TreeFlaking bark. Green flower heads to 1cm (½in) across surrounded by 4 bracts 2.5-5cm (1-2in) long followed by fleshy, red fruit.
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Hardy - cold winterHardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters. May not withstand open/exposed sites or central/northern locations. Plant can withstand temperatures down to -15°C (5°F)
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Full sunshelter from cold winds.
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Partial shade
CORNUS kousa
- Details
- Description
- Mature Size
- Tips and Advice
- Goes Well With
- Planting Combinations
- Other Suggestions
- See Also...
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Additional FeaturesGood to knowStrawberry-like fruit is edible, though skin is tough and unpalatable. Bracts are more tapered than C. florida.Pests & DiseasesNone. Resistant to anthracnose.Place of originKorea, Japan.
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HardinessFully hardy
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Leaf marginEntire
(see photos above) -
Leaf shapeOvate
(see photos above) -
Pruning groupPruning group 1Suitable for: Deciduous and evergreen trees, and some deciduous shrubs.
Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Prune wayward or crossing branches to maintain a healthy framework.
When: When dormant in the late winter/early spring. Some in the summer/autumn to prevent bleeding of sap.
RHS group 1 -
Seasonal InterestAutumnSummer
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Soil ConditionsFertile well drained soilHumus-rich.Neutral to acid soil
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Tree ShapeBroadly conical
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Cornus (Flowering) - Growing Guide
- Positioning
- Planting
- Maintenance - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Propagation
- Cornus capitata seed collection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Diseases
- Cornus capitata - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Cornus kousa 'Satomi' - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Cornus kousa ‘Doubloon’ - Video Tip ondemand_video
Cornus Coloured Stemmed Dogswoods - Growing Guide
Shrubs and Trees - Seeds - 1) Collecting Seeds
- When is the right time to collect seeds?
- When are seeds actually ripe and ready for collection?
- Magnolia seed collection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Lithocarpus Seed Collection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Cornus capitata seed collection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Rhododendron seed collecting - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Camellia seed collection - Video Tip ondemand_video
Shrubs and Trees - Seeds - 2) Storing Seeds
- Storing seeds over winter
- Embothrium Collecting and Storing Seeds
- Decaisnea Seed Collection & Potting
Shrubs and Trees - Seeds - 3) Planting Seeds
Trees - Care Guide
- How to plant a tree - Video Tip ondemand_video
- How to plant a tree
- Ties - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Restaking fallen young trees - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Fallen old tree - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Clearing up fallen beech tree - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Spring pruning - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Removing side shoots - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Pruning and Shaping Magnolia - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Deer protection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Weed Spraying - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Removing Ivy - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Removing wire protection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Tree Survey - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Crown uplift - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Removing shoots below graft - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Removing peeling bark - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Maintaining variegation - Video Tip ondemand_video
7m (23ft)
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5m (16ft) |
Buy Varieties of CORNUS kousa
FLOWERING DOGWOODS

CORNUS kousa 'Gold Star'
Chinese dogwood
leaves have a central blotch of golden-yellow. As the season progresses the centre turns red and the margin turns purple

CORNUS kousa 'Samaritan'
Japanese dogwood
variegated with creamy-white and green foliage


CORNUS kousa 'Satomi'
Japanese dogwood
deep pink bracts. Leaves turn deep purplish-red in autumn


CORNUS kousa 'Wolf Eyes'
Japanese dogwood
stunning trailing white leaves which are tinged pink when young and unevenly mottled with white and a hint of yellow along the leaf edges

CORNUS kousa var chinensis
Chinese dogwood
white flushed pink


CORNUS kousa var chinensis 'China Girl'
Chinese dogwood
very large creamy-white bracts in late spring. Red and purple autumn colour and exfoliating bark

CORNUS kousa var chinensis 'Milky Way'
Chinese dogwood
prolific flowerer with white flowers and grey-green leaves turning red in autumn
Useful extras...

Fertilisers & Feeds - Vitax
Q4 Pelleted Fertiliser
A useful fertiliser suitable for use on a wide variety of plants. Q4 provides all the nutrients and trace elements essential for vigorous growth, abundant flowering and ripening of fruit.
3 options from £6.00

Fertilisers & Feeds - Empathy
Rootgrow mycorrhizal fungi
Recommended by the RHS. Contains Rootgrow™ mycorrhizal fungi. Suitable for all trees and shrubs (except rhododendrons, azaleas, heathers, cranberries and blueberries)
2 options from £6.00

Fertilisers & Feeds - Empathy
All-purpose Seaweed Stimulant
All-purpose organic concentrated seaweed feed that is a ready to use, derived from sustainable harvested kelp, that can be used on all outdoor and indoor plants, except acid loving plants.
Perfect used in conjunction with Rootgrow™.
Only £7.50

Garden Goodies
Slate Plant Labels
These wonderfully tactile natural slate plant labels are hand made in Cornwall and come with a chalk pen.
Just stick them in your pot or border. Pack of 6.
Only £10.20

Garden Goodies
Slate Tie-on Plant Labels
Hand made in Cornwall, these delightful natural slate labels are perfect for pots.
Comes with chalk pen. Pack of 5
Only £10.20