Kousa Dogwood , also known as Cornus kousa , is a humble deciduous flowering Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or multi - stemmed bush . It is native to East Asia , include Korea , China and Japan . Widely cultivated as an ornamental , it is naturalized in   New York State . This plant is commonly used in landscape gardening as a specimen Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or in shrub borders . It is also a nifty industrial plant to attract birds to the garden .

On average , Kousa Dogwoods grow at a slow - to - metier rate of 1 - 2 foot per twelvemonth and make a tiptop of 20 - 30 feet tall . Initially of an just substance abuse , they spread out in maturity to a full breadth of 16 - 30 feet . In the right-hand conditions they may live for more than 100 years . The barque is generally grayish - brown in color . As the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ages , the barque begins to peel , uncover a lighter color underneath . The Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree has a horizontal forking habit that make the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree an ideal counterpoint for vertical social organisation .

The leaves are simple , ovate to elliptic , and have an polar system on the branches . They are about 2 to 4 inches long . The folio are gullible in color during the growing time of year , with a quiet texture and a shiny appearance . The leaf margin are placid and do not have serration or lobe . In the tumble , the leaves wrench from immature to a vibrant mixture of color including red , purple , and scarlet .

The flowers of the Kousa Dogwood are not really flowers , but rather modified leave squall bract . These bracts are showy and resemble petals . The bracts are livid , although some cultivars may have pink or red bracts . They are put in a star - shaped pattern around the center of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . The actual flower are modest and invisible , locate at the center of the bracts . They are ordinarily yellow or greenish - scandalmongering and have a abstemious , gratifying scent .

The blooms appear in late give , after the farewell have amply come out . The bracts last for several calendar week . The flush are followed by small , berry - like fruit that ripen in late summertime or early fall . These fruit are red or pinkish in color and are a favorite solid food of birds and other wildlife . The fruits are also edible and have a honeyed , creamy flavor .

Kousa Dogwood is a brave works , insubordinate to dogwood anthracnose disease , unlike its proportional Cornus florida . It is also resistant to cold , deer , dogwood tree anthracnose , dogwood borers , rime , and powdery mildew . It prefers well - drained , acidulous filth and can thrive in full Sunday to fond tad .

This Dogwood is well - suited to USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8 . It can thrive in a wide chain of climates , from the cooler areas of the Northeast and Midwest to the tender regions of the South and Pacific Northwest .

Key Characteristics

cultivar of Kousa Dogwood

Interesting facts about Kousa Dogwood

grow condition

Care and Maintenance