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Cornus kousa

kousa

© RHS 1999
Sold by 26 nurseries

  • Other common names kousa
    Szechuan strawberry

  • Synonyms Benthamidia japonica
    Dendrobenthamia japonica

    Benthamia.1 japonica
    Cornus japonica
    Benthamidia kousa

    see more

  • Family Cornaceae

  • Genus Cornus can be deciduous shrubs or trees, or creeping, woody-based perennials, some with brightly coloured young stems. Tiny flowers are borne in dense clusters, sometimes with showy bracts. Many have fine autumn colour

  • Details C. kousa is a small bushy tree to 7m tall, with oval leaves turning reddish-purple in autumn, and tight clusters of small white flowers surrounded by four large oval cream bracts and followed by strawberry-like deep pink fruit clusters

  • Plant range China, Japan, Korea

Characteristics

  • Foliage Deciduous

  • Habit Bushy

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H6

Colour

Sunlight

  • Partial Shade

  • Full Sun

  • Aspect North-facing or West-facing or East-facing or South-facing

  • Exposure Exposed

Soil

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Sand

    Sand

  • Loam

    Loam

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained

  • SoilClay, Chalk, Sand, Loam

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 4-8 metres

  • Ultimate spread 4-8 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 20-50 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grow in well-drained soil in sun or partial shade

Propagation Propagate by semi-hardwood or hardwood cuttings or grafting

Suggested planting locations and garden types Flower borders and beds

How to care

Pruning Pruning group 1

Pests Generally pest free

Diseases May suffer from cornus anthracnose diseases

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