Cornus kousa (Kousa Dogwood Tree)

Kousa Dogwood typically blooms in late spring into early summer, later than many native dogwoods. The show is created by large white bracts surrounding small true flowers, and in some conditions bracts can age toward a soft pink blush.

One reason kousa feels like a premium flowering tree is bloom persistence—bracts can remain showy for weeks, stretching that spring display longer than many ornamentals. Planting where the canopy is easy to see from a window or patio makes that extended bloom window count.

Growth rate is commonly described as slow to moderate, building a strong framework over time rather than racing upward. Mature size is often around 20–30 feet tall and 20–30 feet wide, which places it squarely in the small-to-medium landscape tree category.

That mature footprint is ideal for front yards and patio views: large enough to create presence and light shade, but not so big that it overwhelms a typical residential lot. Choosing the right spacing from day one is the easiest way to keep it low-maintenance long term.

Full sun to partial shade both work, but performance often improves with afternoon shade in hotter climates to reduce leaf scorch and stress. Morning sun with filtered afternoon light is a classic “sweet spot” for strong flowering and healthier foliage.

In cooler regions, more sun can be fine as long as soil moisture is steady and drainage is good. The key is balancing light with root comfort: well-drained soil plus consistent moisture while establishing produces the best canopy and bloom quality.

Yes—kousa produces distinctive, round, bumpy fruit that adds late-season interest. The fruit is widely described as edible, and in many U.S. landscapes it is typically consumed by birds, which adds real wildlife value beyond flowers alone.

For customers who want a tree that “does something” after bloom, fruit plus fall color is the payoff. Planting near mixed borders or naturalized edges can make wildlife interaction more visible and enjoyable.

Kousa Dogwood is broadly regarded as more resistant to dogwood anthracnose than native flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), which is one of the biggest reasons it’s so widely planted as an ornamental. That doesn’t make it invincible, but it does reduce the risk profile compared with more susceptible species in disease-prone regions.

Best practices still matter: avoid overhead irrigation that wets foliage, maintain airflow, and remove deadwood promptly. These steps reduce disease pressure and keep the canopy clean and attractive.

For most landscapes, space Kousa Dogwood 20–30 feet apart (or from other large-canopy trees) to match its typical mature spread and prevent canopy crowding. Proper spacing improves airflow, reduces disease pressure, and lets the layered branching show off the way it’s meant to.

From structures, a practical minimum is 10+ feet (more is better if you want the full canopy shape without pruning conflicts). This spacing protects foundations, keeps branches off roofs, and prevents “constant pruning” maintenance cycles later.

Our trees and shrub heights are measured from the top of the root ball to the top of the plant. We do not include the root system in our measurements. You can be assured that if we sell a tree at 4 to 5 feet high that after planting the tree will be 4 to 5 feet tall after planting.

You might see our sizes listed as 4 to 5 feet tall. Simply put, trees and shrubs grow. We are always pruning our plants to promote better branching and fuller canopies. This ensures you receive a plant that has been properly pruned to ensure health and vitality. Doing this can often change the height by 6 to 8 inches. By grading trees into 1-foot increments it assures you that you get what you’re paying for. Oftentimes our trees are sold above the height we specify but we never ship a plant that does not make the minimum height we specify.