• Previous Previous
• Next Next
• Photo 2 of 10

Milky Way Dogwood(2 of 10)

Cornus kousa var. Chinensis 'Milky Way' – Milky Way Dogwood

- Kousa is a good substitute for the native dogwood in many urban landscape situations. One reason is that it is resistant to the organism that causes dogwood anthracnose.
- Showy white flowers in late spring. The Milky Way Dogwood has an even greater flower and fruit production. The star-shaped flowers appear after the foliage and provide almost a 'milky way' effect.
- All dogwoods produce clusters of green fruit that eventually turn red — birds love the fruit, which resembles raspberries.
- Upright, vase-shaped when young, but branches start to branch out with age. The dark-green foliage turns red in the fall.
- Resists drought better than other dogwoods.
- Older bark develops an exfoliating character, revealing a mix of gray-tan and mahogany brown.
- Do not panic. The Kousa doesn't bloom for a couple of years after it's planted.
- Full sun to partial shade
- It can grow 20 to 30 feet high
- Zones 5 to 8

Care:

- It is considered a low-maintenance tree — water well until established, but do not overwater.
- These are trees — not shrubs— so no hard pruning is necessary. It may be desirable to remove — or limb up — some lower branches to reveal the bark.
- Prune when dormant.