Cornus kousa var. chinensis
The autumn colour of this dogwood is truly spectacular. Part of our Cornus collection, this plant sets the borders ablaze in autumn and we love it so much it is planted throughout the garden. In Lady Anne’s Garden you can find it in the Arboretum, Locks Trail and the Woodland walk; in the Formal Garden we have it in the Foliage/Plantman’s Garden, the Rock Gully, and in the Stream Field Garden.
Vital statistics
- Common name
- Chinese dogwood
- Family
- Cornaceae
- Height & spread
- Up to 7m (22ft) high and 5m (15ft)
- Form
- Deciduous tree.
- Soil
- Fertile, humus-rich, acid soil.
- Aspect
- Full sun or partial shade.
- Hardiness
- Hardy throughout the British Isles.
Cornus
The dogwoods, Cornus, comprise around 65 species of mostly deciduous shrubs and small trees from woodlands and swamps, grown in gardens for their ornamental effects.
Dogwoods such as Cornus alba and C. stolonifera are prized for their brilliant autumn foliage, bright fruits and colourful winter stems which range from yellow and crimson to almost black-purple.
The flowering dogwoods such as C. florida, C. kousa and C. nuttallii are also grown for their stunning autumn colour but it is their large white or pink bracts in early summer for which the group is best known.
The genus Cornus is named from the Latin name for the cornelian cherry. Cornus mas is grown for its yellow flowers in spring, followed by bright red, fleshy, edible fruit in late summer. It also produces a wonderful autumn display.
Cornus kousa var. chinensis
This large, free-flowering deciduous shrub or small tree grows to eight metres, its leaves turning red and orange in autumn. Its flowerheads have showy cream bracts and its fruit is deep pink and strawberry-like.
Cultivation
- Cornus kousa var. chinensis is best grown as a specimen tree in a fertile, humus-rich, neutral to acid soil in full sun or partial shade. It is not recommended for poor, shallow, chalk soils.
- Plants are slow-growing when young, but they speed up after a few years before slowing down again.
- Cornus kousa is best left to develop with a central-leader or as a branched-head standard with minimal pruning. Gradually clear a short trunk when young by pruning in the autumn or spring and then keep pruning to an absolute minimum.
- Remove dead wood after flowering, taking care not to damage the twiggy flowering growth. Cornus kousa does not tolerate hard pruning.
- Cornus are rarely affected by pests and diseases, though some may suffer from Cornus anthracnose or succumb to honey fungus.
Propagation
- Propagate the species by seed. These are cold stratified when ripe and sown the following spring.
- Take green wood cuttings of cultivars in the summer.
AGM
The RHS Woody Plant Committee awarded Cornus kousa var. chinensis an Award of Garden Merit with the description: Large, free-flowering deciduous shrub with ovate leaves turning red and orange in autumn. Flower-heads with four ovate cream bracts 4-6cm long. Fruit deep pink, strawberry like.