Does it need full sun?

It prefers full sun to partial shade, especially in hotter climates.

How often should I prune it?

Pruning is rarely needed, but you can remove dead or crossing branches in late winter.

Plant guide

Kousa dogwood.

Cornus kousa

Pronounced KOR-nus KOO-suh

Also known as Chinese Dogwood, Japanese Dogwood, Korean Dogwood, Kousa, Kousa Dogwood, Snow Tower

The Kousa dogwood is a lovely deciduous tree known for its stunning display of pointed bracts that look like flowers. It produces unique, raspberry like fruit in the late summer that birds absolutely adore. This tree brings a wonderful architectural interest to the garden throughout every season.

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Deciduous tree
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 15 to 30 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 5 to 8
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

Plant this tree in a spot with well draining soil that stays consistently moist but not waterlogged. Keep an eye out for leaf scorch during hot summer spells, which means it needs more shade or extra water. Mulching around the base helps keep the roots cool and happy.

Watering: Water deeply during dry periods to keep the soil evenly moist.
Feeding: Apply a balanced slow release fertilizer in early spring before new growth starts.
Pruning: Prune only to remove dead or crossing branches during the dormant winter season.
Repotting: If kept in a container, move to a larger pot every few years to accommodate root growth.
Soil: Acidic, organic rich, well drained soil
Soil pH: 5.5 to 6.5
Temperature: -28 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 30 to 50 years.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes
Water running straight through the pot
Stunted growth during the active season

Safety

People: This plant is not considered toxic to humans.
Children: The fruit is safe to handle, but always supervise young children to prevent choking on the seeds.
Contact allergens: Some individuals may experience mild skin irritation from handling the foliage.
Airborne allergens: The pollen may cause mild seasonal allergies in sensitive individuals.
Edibility: The fruit is edible but has a gritty texture and a somewhat bland flavor that many people find unappealing.

How to identify it

Pointed white or pinkish bracts
Exfoliating bark with mottled pattern
Raspberry like edible red fruit
Dark green ovate leaves
Upright vase shaped growth habit

Height: 4.5 to 9m
Spread: 4.5 to 9m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: white, cream, 5 to 10cm
Fruit: pink, red, Late summer to autumn

Problems to watch for

Dogwood anthracnose · A fungal infection that causes leaf spots and twig dieback.
Powdery mildew · A white fungal growth on leaves that occurs in humid conditions.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, cuttings
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: Apply a layer of mulch around the base to protect roots from temperature fluctuations. No special protection is needed for the branches in its hardiness range.
In containers: It can be grown in large containers for several years, but it will eventually require planting in the ground.

Seed

Collect ripe fruit in autumn.
Clean the seeds and store in moist sand in the fridge for 3 months.
Sow in pots in early spring.

Planting low growing perennials around the base helps keep the root zone cool and moist.

Grows well with

Hosta · These shade lovers thrive under the canopy of the dogwood.
Azalea · They share similar soil requirements and look lovely together in spring.

Similar species

Flowering Dogwood · A close relative that blooms earlier but is more susceptible to disease.

Science

Family: Cornaceae
Genus: Cornus
Order: Cornales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: East Asia including Japan, Korea, and China.
Conservation: This species is not of conservation concern.

It grows in forest margins where it benefits from dappled light and moist, well drained soil.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, provides fruit for birds
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ornamental specimen, woodland garden, patio tree

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 6/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need full sun?: It prefers full sun to partial shade, especially in hotter climates.
How often should I prune it?: Pruning is rarely needed, but you can remove dead or crossing branches in late winter.

Where the name comes from

The name Cornus comes from the Latin word for horn, referring to the hard wood, while kousa is the Japanese name for this tree.

Good to know

The fruit is technically a syncarp, which is a cluster of individual drupes fused together.
It is much more resistant to disease than the native flowering dogwood.
The bark exfoliates as the tree ages, creating a beautiful mottled pattern.

Keep your kousa dogwood growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.