Plant types

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Planting conditions

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Nurseries & Gardens

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Cornus kousa ssp. chinensis

Also Known As

Cornus kousa 'Chinensis'
Cornus kousa chinensis
Cornus kousa var. chinensis
Chinensis White Flowering Dogwood
Fruiting Dogwood

Plant type

tree

size

H: 20'-25'
W: 15'-20'

planting zones

5a-8b

More Options

Cornus kousa ssp. chinensis plant details

Cornus kousa ssp. chinensis is a broadleaf deciduous tree with green foliage. In summer green and white flowers emerge followed by pink and red fruit. Features glossy texture. Attracts birds. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and regular water. Does well in acidic, average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Cornus kousa ssp. chinensis

Plant type: tree
Plant family: cornaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 15 FT - 20 FT - wide, 20 FT - 25 FT - tall
Flowers: green and white blooms in summer
Uses: fall color

GROWING CONDITIONS for Cornus kousa ssp. chinensis

USDA Zones: 5a - 8b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: regular
Resistant to: verticillium wilt
Soil needs: acidic, average, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

A magnificent small, rounded tree whose large white blooms appear later than our native C. florida (in June); autumn brings brilliant scarlet fall coloration and large, red, raspberry-like fruits. S-PSh/M

By: Forestfarm

Chinese Dogwoods are popular because of their ease of growing in containers and intense heavy flowering in mid to late spring. They are also more upright than typical Cornus kousa dogwood plants, which are generally native to Japan. The Chinese subspecies flowers later than most other dogwoods, an excellent way to extend the dogwood flowering season. Cornus kousa types are also highly resistant to many of the blight and root rot diseases that often plague other species when summers become too humid. Additionally, the highly productive fruit are edible when they ripen in the fall.

By: Red Panda Nursery

Mostly free of dogwood decline and always popular in the nursery trade because seedlings are so inexpensive and easy to grow in a pot. Spectacular when laden with masses of large-bract flowers. Vase-shaped at maturity, it differs significantly from C. florida by blooming a full month later and has more attractive, strawberry-like fruits. Autumn color is a showy burgundy, and fruits ripen at different stages in colors of green, yellow, orange, and red. Differs from C. kousa, Japanese Dogwood, in its more upright growth, longer internodes, and larger leaves and flowers. These characteristics make it profitable as an ornamental GC promo item, and as a rootstock.

By: Heritage Seedlings

White star-shaped flowers late spring, strawberry-like fruit, reddish fall color. USDA Zones 5-8.

By: Lael's Moon Garden

A Japanese/Chinese Native that has better resistance to disease and better cold hardiness than our Native Dogwood WHEN that matters. Our Native in an acceptable zone and in an open planting area where leaves don't pile up around the based, air circulation is good, etc. is a GREAT plant. But this offers a better solution in woodland areas and in colder areas. Blooms are 3-5" across, similar to our native but a couple of weeks later and you can extend the show by planting both. The pinkish red berry is significantly different and reminds me a bit of a raspberry. Foliage turns reddish purple to scarlet in Fall. The casual observer will often confuse the two in bloom -- they look quite alike but the blooms are a tad bigger and later. MOBOT Plant of Merit.

By: Lazy S'S Farm Nursery

Taller, more open than the species C. kousa, with slightly larger leaves. Very long-lasting “flowers” in June and strawberry-like edible fruit in the fall. Good fall color.