Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 3.0 - 00000418
11/12/99

Cornus kousa--Kousa Dogwood, Japanese Dogwood


Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8
Height: 20 ft Spread: 20 ft Form: rounded
Type: deciduous tree
Annual Growth Rate: less than 12 inches
Flowers: White
Fruit: Red

Comments: Kousa Dogwood has ornamental flowers (Vis. 6),
fall color (Vis. 7), and fruiting. The white, pointed
bracts are produced a month later than those of Flowering
Dogwood and are effective for about a month. The red fruits
(Vis. 8) look like a big round raspberry. The fall color is
red to maroon. Kousa dogwood can be used in areas where C.
florida seems to be marginal.

Cultivars: Some of the cultivars listed are hybrids
between C. kousa and C. florida. These were produced by
Dr. Elwin Orton at Rutgers University. Flowering times
and other characteristics are generally intermediate
between the parents.
Aurora(R) ('Rutban')(Plant Patent 7205) (C. kousa x C.
florida) - A full, tall tree with a broad, rounded
crown (Vis. 1). The flowers have wide, overlapping
white bracts (Vis. 2). Good fall color.
'Autumn Rose' - Young foliage is yellowish, the fall
color is pink to dark pink.
'Ballerina' - A 20-foot tree that has overlapping bracts
and profuse flowering.
'Beni Fuji' - Deep pink flowers, the leaves have red
veins and petioles.
Celestial(R) ('Rutdan')(Plant Patent 7204)(C. kousa x C.
florida) - An upright tree reaching height of 20 feet.
The flowers are white.
'China Girl' - Flowers with larger bracts.
var. chinensis - The flowers (Vis. 4) are somewhat larger
than the species and the tree may be slightly larger.
var. chinensis 'Blue Shadow' - Foliage is bluish.
var. chinensis 'Galzam' (Galilean TM) - A form with large
leaves and bracts. The form is vase-shaped becoming
rounded.
var. chinensis 'Milky Way' - A (Vis. 5) free flowering
cultivar.
var. chinensis 'Milky Way Select' - A selection with a
profuse and long lasting flower display.
var. chinensis 'Propzam' (Prophet TM) - Large clusters of
flowers.
var. chinensis 'Samzam' (Samaritan TM) - A vigorous form
with green and white foliage that turns burgundy and
pink in the fall.
Constellation(R) ('Rutcan')(Plant Patent 7210) (C. kousa
x C. florida) - A vigorous, tall tree bearing large
white flowers with separated bracts.
'Ed Mezitt' - The wide bracts overlap and the new
leaves emerge purplish.
'Fairway' - Overlapping bracts and improved foliage.
'Gold Star' - The center of the leaves (Vis. 10) are
yellow.
'Lustgaren Weeping' - A weeping type but also with
white flowers and red fruit.
'Moonbeam' - Large flowers.
'National' - A cultivar tolerant of adverse sites with
good blooming and fruiting characteristics.
'Par Four' - Profuse flowers with overlapping bracts.
'Radiant Rose' - Pink flowers, good red fall color.
'Repeat Bloomer' - Large white flowers are produced for a
longer period than the species.
Ruth Ellen(R) ('Rutlan')(Plant Patent 7732)(C. kousa x C.
florida) - A heavy flowering, wide tree covered with
white flowers having wide bracts.
'Satomi' ('Rosabella') - The flowers are pink to red.
'Snowboy' - The leaves have white margins.
'Snow Flake' - White flowers.
'Speciosa' - The leaf margins curl, white flowers.
Stardust(R) ('Rutfan')(Plant Patent 7206)(C. kousa x C.
florida) - A spreading, wide tree bearing abundant,
large white flowers with separated bracts.
Stellar Pink(R) ('Rutgan')(Plant Patent 7207) - A hybrid
of C. florida rubra bearing rich pink flowers (Vis. 3)
with broad bracts.
'Summer Majesty' - White flowers age to pink.
'Summer Stars' - Late flowering.
'Sun Splash' - Yellow foliage (Vis. 9) variegations.
'Temple Jewel' - Young foliage variegated with yellow and
pink, fades to green with a lighter margin.
'Ticknor's Choice' - White flowers, fall color in shades
of red, orange and pink.
'Trinity Star' - A small tree with new foliage variegated
with pink and white.
'Triple Crown' - The flowers are in clusters, three
blooms per cluster.
'Wilton' - Bracts more persistent.
'Wolf eyes' - The leaves have white, wavy margins. The
coloration is most pronounced in full sun.

References for Cultivars: Princeton Nurseries 1999, Bailey
Nurseries 1999, Lake County Nursery 1999, Weston Nurseries
1999, J. Frank Schmidt and Son 1999, Monrovia Nursery
Company 1997, White Flower Farm 1997, Wayside Gardens
1999, Sheridan Nurseries 1999, Moller's Nursery 1997, Ray
Wiegand's Nursery 1999, Iseli Nursery 1999, Berryhill
Nurseries 1999, Scarff's Nursery 1999, Gee Farms 1999,
Willoway Nurseries 1999, Carlton Plants 1999.


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