Photo of Cornus kousa (Japanese Dogwood)

Cornus kousa - A small, deciduous flowering tree or multi-stemmed shrub that typically grows 15-30’ tall, with a vase-shaped habit in the early years but eventually maturing to a more rounded form. Bloom occurs in late spring. The showy flower are the four narrowly pointed petal-like white bracts which surround the center cluster of insignificant, yellowish-green, true flowers. Flowers are followed by berry-like fruits which mature to a pinkish red in summer and persist into fall. Fruits are technically edible, but are usually left for the birds. Leaves are dark green, but usually turns attractive shades of reddish-purple to scarlet in autumn. Mottled, exfoliating, tan and gray bark on mature trees is attractive in winter. Family: Cornaceae  

Author : Donald Buma
Photo # : 41391
Online since: March 13th 2022