Cornus kousa var. chinensis

RHS Plant Profile

Chinese dogwood

Shrubs Trees

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Large, free-flowering deciduous shrub or small tree to 7m tall, with long, pointed, wavy-margined dark green leaves turning crimson-purple in autumn. Small green flowers produced in flowerheads surrounded by 4 large creamy-white bracts to 5cm in length, in early summer followed by fleshy, deep pink, strawberry-like fruits

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 4-8 metres
Max Height: 4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral or Alkaline

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or North–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
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 & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Cornaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
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
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: China, Japan, Korea

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil in sun or light shade, best in neutral to acid soils but tolerant of alkaline conditions. For more advice, see flowering dogwood cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings or hardwood cuttings or grafting

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free but may be susceptible to horse chestnut scale

Diseases

May be susceptible to cornus anthracnose and honey fungus