Japanese Flowering Dogwood

The Japanese flowering dogwood (scientific name Cornus kousa) is a popular ornamental tree that is closely related to the flowering dogwood. It is desired for its showy flowers, bright red to purple fall foliage and colorful peeling bark.

Range

• The Japanese flowering dogwood is native to Japan, Korea and China. It has been spread all over the world as a popular landscape plant for its flowers and foliage.

Description

• Japanese flowering dogwood is a small deciduous tree reaching 20 to 30 feet tall with a rounded shape. The leaves are dark green with small flowers surrounded by white bracts that fade to pink.

Care

• Japanese flowering dogwood grows in USDA zones 5 through 8. It prefers partial shade to full sun and a rich acidic well-draining soil that remains moist.

Uses

• Japanese flowering dogwood is a good choice for a garden or lawn tree. It also makes a nice accent plant near borders or in small groves.

Varieties

• There are several widely grown varieties of Japanese flowering dogwood including weeping forms. "Milky Way" flowers heavily with large bracts and is one of the most common types.