Dogwood, Kousa

Cornus kousa | Kousa Dogwood 

Height: 20-30ft
Spread: 20-30ft
Zone: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Growth Rate: Fast
Bloom Time/Color: April-May; white
Fall Color: Purple/red
Uses: Specimen, ornamental, shade garden
Maintenance: Low
Tree Shape: Pyramidal
Other: Deer resistant

Kousa dogwood is an excellent small specimen tree. It's two outstanding characteristics are the four-petaled, white flowers that appear above the foliage in June and its reddish-purple fall color. Flowers are followed by berry-like fruits (to 1” diameter) which mature to a pinkish red in summer and persist into fall. Fruits are technically edible, but are usually left for the birds. In the Midwest, this is a hardier substitute for the acid-loving flowering dogwood. The shallow root system will benefit with a layer of mulch to maintain a cool root environment.