Cornus Kousa
Description
Highly disease resistant and trouble-free. White springtime blooms and red berries last for months, followed by striking red and purple hues just in time for the autumn season.
Even in winter, the eye-catching bark and form of the Kousa bring a unique beauty to your landscape. Distinctive vase shape makes this tree ideal for border and foundation planting, though it can stand alone as a showpiece tree with ease.
Attracts wildlife of all sorts, and provides a safe haven for birds in the winter time! Its small frame makes it ideal for tight areas, especially for under power lines! The shallow root system of the Kousa makes it a perfect tree to plant near homes without fear of the roots damaging any structures.
The Kousa Dogwood flowers about a month later than the standard Dogwood. It has leaves when it flowers, which make an attractive backdrop. Kousa seems to do better at temperature extremes, both cold and hot.
Planting
Location: Choose a location that receives a minimum of 4 hours of unfiltered sunlight daily. If possible, place it in a location that will receive morning sun and afternoon shade. The location also needs to be in an area with rich, acidic, well-draining moist soil. They are adaptable to most soil types but thrive best in sandy and clay-based soil.
1) Till, then dig a hole 2-3 times the size of the root ball of your tree.
2) Remove your tree from its container and loosen the soil around the root system.
3) Place your tree in the hole holding it straight, add a root stimulant and then back fill your hole.
4) Pack the soil firmly around the tree, tamping down with your hands to remove any air pockets.
5) Water the planting site and place a couple of layers of mulch around the tree to preserve soil moisture and keep competing growth at bay.
Watering
It is best to keep the soil moist around White Kousa Dogwoods. These are not considered to be drought tolerant trees so you’ll need to water daily the first week to keep the soil moist. After that you can water once or twice weekly during the first growing season.
Fertilizing
It is best to test your soil prior to fertilizing your White Kousa Dogwood. This will help you know whether your tree can benefit from an all-purpose fertilizer or if it needs a nutrient specific fertilizer. If you already have nutrient rich soil, you can use a standard fertilizer like a 12-4-8 or a 16-4-8 formula. The best time to fertilize these trees is during the spring in April and May. Keep in mind that if you over-fertilize your tree, this could cause damage to the root system. It’s always best to follow the instructions on the package in regard to how much fertilizer to use
Pruning
Trimming your White Kousa tree isn’t necessary. However, if you wish to show the unique bark and branching, you can prune off some of the lower branches to display more of the tree. This is especially helpful if you are using the tree as shade on your landscape.
Pest
Dogwood trees can have a couple of pest issues from time to time. The best defense is a healthy tree. Aphids have been known to feed on the plant tissue of these trees. You can treat these by spraying them off with a powerful stream of water and applying Neem Oil to your tree.
Borers are another insect that will feed on Dogwood trees. These pests’ tunnel through the tree’s trunk and twigs, feeding on the tree’s tissue. These are also easily treatable by removing any affected twigs and destroying them while the infestation is still active. You can also treat the base of the trunk with an insecticide in May as a preventative measure.
| Growing Information | |
| Mature Height: | 15-25 ft |
| Mature Width: | 25 ft |
| Sunlight: | Full to Partial Sun |
| Bloom Time: | |
| Growth Rate: | Slow |
| Grows Well in Zones: | 5-8 |
| Your Growing Zone: | 6 |
