Kousa dogwood Cornus kousa
Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) is a deciduous perennial tree in the Cornaceae family, native to Japan, Korea and China. It grows 5–8 m (16–26 ft) tall and 4–7 m (13–23 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and moderate water, and is hardy to about -28 °C (-18 °F). Space plants about 5 m (16 ft) apart.
Plan Kousa dogwood in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Kousa dogwood at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Cornaceae |
| Mature height | 5–8 m (16–26 ft) |
| Mature spread | 4–7 m (13–23 ft) |
| Spacing | 5 m (16 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 4 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5–6.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -28 °C (-18 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 5) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 33 °C (91 °F) |
| Flowering | from about June for 3–5 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Yes: ripe fruit pulp (spit out the seeds) |
| Native to | Japan, Korea and China |
| Common in gardens of | 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇨🇳 China, 🇺🇸 United States |
Is Kousa dogwood toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Ripe fruit pulp is edible; seeds are bitter and not meant to be eaten.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Kousa dogwood
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and moderate water.
See Kousa dogwood in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Riverside botanical garden (3 plants)
Questions about Kousa dogwood
- How far apart should I plant Kousa dogwood?
- About 5 m (16 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 4–7 m (13–23 ft).
- Does Kousa dogwood need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Kousa dogwood need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Kousa dogwood?
- It tolerates about -28 °C (-18 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 5.
- When does Kousa dogwood flower?
- From about June for 3–5 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Kousa dogwood poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Ripe fruit pulp is edible; seeds are bitter and not meant to be eaten.
- What grows well with Kousa dogwood?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Kousa dogwood. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden
- Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, NC State Extension
Notes and assumptions
- Showy white bracts open in early summer after the leaves, later than flowering dogwood; more resistant to anthracnose than C. florida.
- Needs well-drained, acidic, humus-rich soil.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Flowering dogwood Cornus florida
- Cornelian cherry Cornus mas
- Red osier dogwood Cornus sericea
- Bunchberry Cornus canadensis
- Dwarf mountain pine Pinus mugo
- Japanese maple Acer palmatum
- Black walnut Juglans nigra
- English yew Taxus baccata