White Kousa Dogwood Tree

ATTRACT WILDLIFE WITH RED BERRIES IN THE FALL

Since the White flowering Dogwood tree is a small deciduous tree, it will begin the year leafless during late winter. Early spring brings white dogwood blossoms that are tiny, yellowish green and shaped as dainty button-like clusters. Each Cornus Kousa Dogwood flower cluster has four showy, white, petal-like leaves which open flat. This gives the appearance of a single, four-petaled, white bract.

In the fall, the medium sized flowers will turn into dark red berries that are bright red fruit for wildlife including deer, several species of birds, and squirrels. Interestingly enough, the Kousa Dogwood fruit is edible for human consumption too and can be made into jellies, jams, or wine. The dark green foliage turns a deep reddish purple to signify the start of the fall season and to put on a show for some serious Kousa Dogwood fall color.

Not only are the creamy white flowers and fall foliage a major selling point, but dogwood trees also have eye catching colorful bark. The trunk and bark are speckled in shades of tans, browns, and gray and provide an attractive appearance during winter when the flowering tree is bare.

Can You Eat Kousa Dogwood Fruit?

Yes, the berries of the Kousa Dogwood tree are edible. While The berries have soft pulp and flesh and have similar flavor and taste to persimmons. Kousa Dogwood tree berries also have seeds in the fruit’s flesh and it can be difficult to eat the berries without removing the seeds first. The rind is also edible but is not usually eaten.

Planting Kousa Dogwood

Your order will include planting instructions. The best time to plant dogwood trees is in early spring or summer so it has the whole growing season to establish. Dig a hole that is twice as deep and wide as the pot it comes in. 

Plant this Dogwood Cornus Kousa tree in moist, acidic soil types that are well-drained soil for best results. Place the root ball into the planting hole and backfill with native soil or amended soil. You can add organic garden soil or acidic soil to the hole if your soil is not moist or fertile enough. 

This ornamental tree grows in drought tolerant areas but be sure to water thoroughly the first year of planting to establish a strong root system. A 2-3 inch layer of organic matter or mulch will help to retain moisture. Since they have shallow root systems, it is okay to plant this beautiful tree closer to large structures or houses.

When Do White Dogwoods Bloom?

The White Dogwood tree will bloom in early spring and has an overlapping flower bloom period with the redbud trees. Plant our White flowering Dogwood Tree at ground level to accentuate any landscape with its dark green leaves and beautiful white blossoms.

Native to East Asia, it has low-branching, broadly pyramidal limbs but flat-topped growth habit and is vase shaped. Perfect for small planting sites and even has the capabilities of being planted under power lines. You can plant the Kousa tree in foundation plantings, privacy hedges, or as stand alone trees where they can be seen and enjoyed in all their glory. The reddish-brown wood is extremely hard and shock resistant, perfect to make handles for tools such as chisels or golf club heads.

When to Prune Kousa Dogwood Tree?

You have two options for pruning this tree. To promote flowering, Kousa dogwood pruning should take place in summer after it has finished its bloom period. The tree will have leaves so it may be more difficult to see the branch structure. But you will not risk cutting off any of the flower buds as they grows on previous years growth. To promote a healthy branch structure, we recommend pruning in late winter or early spring while the tree is dormant. This can help you shape the tree to your desired shape and height. The downside is that you will cut off that years flowers on whatever branches you decide to trim off.

How to Prune a Kousa Dogwood

Shaping a Kousa Dogwood is only necessary to prune the dogwood trees to maintain desired size and shape. Cut back dead or diseased branches in early spring before the active growing season begins. To promote a more shrublike appaerance, prune off the top third of the tree. This will encourage new branching towards the bottom half of the tree. Prune the Kousa tree to your desired height and size to help maintain a good structure.

Kousa White Dogwood Tree Care

Caring for Kousa Dogwood Trees starts with the perfect planting site. Carefully plan out where you want to plant your new dogwood tree in the landscape. The dwarf Kousa Dogwood hardiness zones grow best in USDA growing zones 5-9 of the United States.

Dogwood trees prefer a site in the yard where there is full sun to partial shade. In hotter climates, it is best to choose an area with morning sun and partial afternoon shade that is protected from the hot afternoon sun. You can even plant these small trees beneath taller trees as understory trees where they can thrive in the shade.

Although they are relatively free of pests and diseases, the Dogwood Borer pest sometimes does attack young dogwood trees. If left untreated it could be fatal. Insecticide may be needed to treat extremely bad cases. Apply a slow release fertilizer to the root ball to encourage growth and protect against fungal diseases such as leaf spotting and powdery mildew.

How Big Do Kousa Dogwoods Get?

The Kousa Dogwood size typically grows 15 to 25 feet tall and 15 feet wide as an established dogwood. It is a small dwarf dogwood variety that is perfect for small gardens.

How Fast Does a White Dogwood Tree Grow?

The Kousa Dogwood growth rate is slow to moderate growing, about 1 foot per year as a newly planted tree.

This tree does not ship bare root. It is rooted in a container with soil for the health of the tree during shipment. Shop the White Dogwood tree for sale today!

Dogwood Tree Growing Guide coming soon.

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