Cooperative Living May 2021 - 32

GardenMuse | by Paula Steers Brown, Contributing Columnist
The distinctive
starry blooms
A Dogwood for All Seasons
Extend the blooming season with a different variety
ogwood blossoms in springtime - what could be
better? What about having blooms that last longer on
trees that are stronger? Extend the season with a kousa
dogwood. This Asian cousin's frothy clouds of white appear
later, in May, and last up to six weeks longer than those of
our beloved native dogwood, Cornus florida.
The Cornus kousa matures to
produce pleasing horizontal layers
of branches, forming thick, leafy
canopies that can handle a sunnier
placement. The kousa dogwood's fall
display is showier because of its large
red fruits. Exfoliating bark on a trunk
that is less susceptible to disease
provides subtle winter interest.
The tree's toughness makes it a great choice for both home
landscapes and urban public areas.
LONGER SHOWMANSHIP
The distinctive starry blooms are not flowers, botanically
speaking. The pointed, creamy-white " petals " are actually
bracts, or modified leaves. which surround a small, greenishyellow
center crown - the real, though relatively
inconspicuous, flower.
Unlike the native flowering dogwood, the kousa blooms
after the tree has leafed out. The long-lived bracts are held
upright on a stalk and unhidden by the foliage. The deep
green backdrop accentuates the cross-shaped twinkling
blooms, cloaking the branches in horizontal tiers. Those
flashy stars are attractive to humans, as well as pollinators,
such as bees and butterflies. Try landscape lighting to
highlight these show-offs on romantic summer nights.
As summer progresses, the kousa's true flower in the
central crown changes from greenish-yellow to pink to bright
red, forming an eye-catching globe about a half-inch in
diameter. The fleshy compound fruit, or syncarp, resembles
a big raspberry and hangs on a 2-inch-long stalk. These
attractive, textured balls adorn the tree from late August
through October.
The fruits are edible when they become soft, but songbirds
are the primary feasters. The tree's thick, tapered leaves turn
reddish-purple in fall, persisting as long as five weeks. Even in
winter, the kousa retains interest. As the tree ages, it develops
a distinctive exfoliating bark of mottled, rich grays and
browns, and casts a striking silhouette upon the landscape.
YOUR CHOICE
There is a great variety of spectacular kousa cultivars.
Moonbeam has giant flowers almost 7 inches across. Satomi
and Stellar Pink offer pink blossoms. Weeping types are
30 | Cooperative Living | May 2021
D
are not flowers,
but bracts, or
modified leaves.
graceful such as Lustgaarden Weeping, which has a dramatic
spread of almost 15 feet. The cultivar Milky Way has a
broad bushy form suitable for the home landscape with a
particularly floriferous habit. Kousa varieties proved to be
very hardy, free from pests, fungus and diseases that have
plagued native dogwoods and caused their decline in
recent decades.
Kousa dogwoods can grow in full sun or partial shade,
but they must have well-drained, acidic soil. Dig a hole about
3 times as wide as the root ball, but the depth needs only
to be the same depth as the root ball. The new tree will
appreciate you keeping the soil moist through the summer,
especially in the first three years until the tree gets
established. Add a circle of organic mulch about 3 feet wide
around the base of the tree to retain moisture to the roots.
Dogwoods are known for their delicate beauty. The
kousa has that delicacy but adds stamina. It is the tree for
all seasons, providing dramatic bloom and fruit for extended
periods on elegant spreading branches. Its shady canopy
will be a magical spot for relaxation. ■
Starry white blooms
of Cornus kousa appear
in May and last up to
six weeks, greatly
extending dogwoods'
dazzling season.
Above left, uniquely textured
red fruits provide interest
in late summer through fall,
as well as food for songbirds.
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Cooperative Living May 2021

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