They both take our breath away with their individual attributes. Cornus kousa and Cornus officinalis, however, cause confusion when purchasing them, as both ornamental shrubs can sometimes be found under the name Japanese dogwood. In order to shed some light on the matter, we will first present the answers to frequently asked questions that explain the differences between the Cornus kousa and the Cornus officinalis.
What are the ideal conditions for a Cornus kousa?
The Cornus kousa, also known as the Japanese flower dogwood, impresses with its splendor of flowers in May and June and reaches a height of 4 meters. It prefers bright to light-shaded locations without blazing midday sun and thrives in sandy, humus-rich, well-drained soil.
Which location is suitable?
In its natural range, a Cornus kousa prefers to find a place along the edge of the forest. The furious flowering tree achieves its optimum under the following conditions:
- Bright to light shaded location without blazing midday sun
- Without the risk of summer heat
- Preferably humid, near a pond or stream
With an average height of 4 meters, a Japanese flower dogwood is the ideal candidate to showcase itself against the dark backdrop of mighty deciduous trees, such as its towering counterpart, the Cornus officinalis. continue reading
What soil does the plant need?
A Cornus kousa proves to be demanding when it comes to soil conditions. Allocate a place for the ornamental tree in sandy, humus-rich and well-drained soil. A high nutrient content is desirable, as is a fresh to moderately dry moisture level. Regardless of its preference for a humid location, the soil must not be threatened by waterlogging.
When is flowering time?
Cornus kousa presents its flowers in May and June. It thus continues the flowering of the Cornus officinalis seamlessly, which suggests that the two dogwood species are linked together. These are not flowers in the true sense of the word. In fact, the Japanese flower dogwood delights us with its small heads, surrounded by 4 magnificent white or pink bracts.
Cut Cornus kousa correctly
As an early summer flowering shrub, a Cornus kousa receives its central shape and maintenance pruning in late winter on a frost-free, overcast day. Feel free to shorten shoots that are too long to the desired length, as the tree tolerates pruning well. Although pruning is not absolutely necessary per se, annual thinning should not be missed. Furthermore, there is nothing wrong with cutting off branches immediately after flowering. It is important to remember that you are depriving yourself of some of the decorative and tasty stone fruits.read more
Propagate Cornus kousa
If you purchase a Cornus kousa, you will most likely succumb to the brilliant charisma of its hybrids. Of course, the beautiful varieties can only be propagated through grafting by the master gardener. In contrast, breeding the pure wild species is very easy using cuttings, cuttings, planters or sowing.
Beautiful varieties
Before you deal with answers to frequently asked questions about the Cornus officinalis, we invite you to take a short excursion into the fascinating variety of Cornus kousa:
- Venus: The world star among the Japanese flower dogwoods with a rush of creamy white flowers in May and June; 200-400cm
- Queen of Clubs: Floral deck of cards with white bracts arranged in a cross shape around a spherical center; 350-500cm
- Ben Fuji: A compact variety that delights us with pink dogwood flowers; ideal for the bucket; 175-250cm
- Goldstar: This valuable breed boasts yellow marked leaves and white flowers; 150-200cm
- China Girl: The majestic Cornus kousa is recommended as a solitaire for the large garden; 400-600cm
