Cornus kousa – just waiting with camera at the ready

Flowering Dogwood never really seems to get across just how absolutely stunning flowering ornamental Cornus are.  Forming small trees or multi-stem large shrubs, Cornus kousa are just sublime when in full display.  

One of the most popular spots on our cash and carry when Cornus kousa are doing their thing is the display house to the back of the nursery.  You can hear many a camera click in there when the star-shaped ornamental bracts (often mistaken or called flowers) are in full swing.  

The flowers are in fact tiny and are held in tiny clusters at the centre of the majestic coloured bracts in late spring to early summer.  In the autumn Cornus kousa have a spectacular foliage colour before falling leaving a great structure to enjoy in the winter months too.  

Cornus kousa Cappuccino has delicious coffee coloured new emerging foliage in the spring that turn bronze-purple in sunlight.  The bracts are white in colour. 
Cornus kousa Milky Way has a dense, branching habit forming a majestic small tree / large shrub.  Masses of milky-white bracts in the summer.  Red to crimson autumn foliage.  Height 6m+
Cornus kousa Satomi has deep pink bracts and rich red autumn foliage.  Height 4m
Cornus kousa Summer Flair has creamy grey-green leaves with cream margins that turn pink in the autumn.  Showy white bracts.  Height 2m
Cornus kousa chinensis has large white bracts and excellent autumn foliage colour.  Height 3m
Cornus kousa chinensis China Girl is outstanding in its display with huge white bracts in the summer followed by orange- red foliage in the autumn.  Height 3m 

Requiring a deep rich soil Cornus kousa and kousa chinensis are a perfect choice for statement planting, architectural planting, informal gardens and even in containers.  

      

Cappuccino                                                                                                       Milky Way                                      Satomi