Kousa Dogwood

Kousa dogwood is the dogwood that works in Western Washington without the anxiety. Native to Japan, Korea, and China, it blooms two to three weeks later than flowering dogwood, May to June, with pointed, star-shaped white bracts that sit atop the foliage like a constellation of four-pointed stars scattered across the canopy. The effect is more refined and longer-lasting than flowering dogwood, holding for four to six weeks. By late summer, the bracts are gone and raspberry-like red fruit hangs from the branches, eventually dropping to the ground where it makes a sticky mess on pavement but feeds birds enthusiastically. Fall color is scarlet.

The critical advantage of Kousa dogwood over flowering dogwood in this region is resistance to dogwood anthracnose. It is not immune, but it is substantially less susceptible, and healthy specimens in good sites rarely develop serious infections. Five cultivars are in the trade: 'Gold Star' for variegated foliage, 'Radiant Rose' for pink bracts, 'Scarlet Fire' for deep pink, 'Sunsplash' for gold-edged leaves, and the species form for classic white. Nine diseases and six pests are tracked, but most are cosmetic. Sun to part shade with well-drained soil produces the best performance. The moderate growth rate means it reaches about twenty-five feet over time, a size that fits residential lots without eventually overwhelming them. For the four-season ornamental display, flowers, fruit, fall color, winter bark, Kousa dogwood is one of the best small trees for the region.