Kousa Dogwood – Some Facts

Q: I need to replace a tree in my small front yard. Can you tell me about the kousa dogwood?

A: Kousa dogwood is an excellent tree for urban landscapes. It grows 15′ to 25′ tall and has a bushier habit than the common Florida dogwood. It sports beautiful white (or pink) bracts in May, followed by glossy summer foliage and raspberry-like fruit in fall. It can be planted in full sun; the root system is not intrusive. Several cultivars are available, including ‘Milky Way’, ‘Constellation’ and ‘Stellar Pink’. ‘Wolf Eyes’ has distinctive white leaf variegation but is best suited for shady landscapes. It would be hard to plant too many kousa dogwoods in metro Atlanta!