Knowledgebase
Kousa Dogwood #902739
Asked May 23, 2025, 4:00 PM EDT
Sussex County Delaware
Expert Response
C. kousa can be planted in full sun to part shade, while C. florida is considered an understory tree and should be planted in pat shade. C. kousa could benefit from protection from afternoon sun or will require supplemental water during periods of high heat.
The C. florida is more heat tolerant and the C. kousa is more cold tolerant. The C. kousa blooms almost a month after the C. florida and therefore there is less chance of a late frost killing off the flowering buds. The C. kousa has a greater tolerance for drought conditions once it is established.
While the fruit of the C kousa is edible to humans and be made into jams, it has little value to wildlife, while C florida is a valued food source.
I don't know if I would call it an issue, but Rutgers University professor Elwin Orton spent 50 years developing crosses between the American and Asian dogwoods (Cornus x rutgersensis), hybrids of whichhave developed good disease resistance to Dogwood Anthracnose. This disease has killed many dogwoods in recent years in Delaware. Currently there is only 1 C. florida hybrid ' Appalachian Spring' that has been developed with good resistance to dogwood anthracnose. The C. kousa hybrids have much better resistance.
Which ever one you choose, site it carefully, they make great specimen trees for a focal point, but watch North winds, western afternoon sun, have a soil test (they don't like alkaline soil) and make sure you water deeply as needed during the first three years and thereafter during periods of drought.
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-flowering-dogwood-trees/
https://www.thetreecenter.com/how-to-choose-a-flowering-dogwood-tree/?srsltid=AfmBOopFKlF8W8b_yxme53hf8Vzg9ooHX9ANil-wioIA6xk0lHT6Vhhl