Plant of the Week
Chinese Dogwood
Latin: Cornus kousa var. chinensis
 We gardeners, with the complicity of Mother Nature, overdo this spring
thing. Our gardens begin blooming in March and are riots of color through April
and then it all seems to stop.
Having trees that flower later in the spring makes sense in Arkansas
because it bridges the gap between the forsythia season and the crape myrtle
season. The Chinese dogwood is a great tree for this purpose, coming into bloom
in mid May and lasting until early June.
The Chinese dogwood is a 20-foot tall, twiggy, round-headed tree that is
small enough to be accommodated in even the most crowded garden. Its flowers
appear three weeks after those of the native dogwood.
The blooms are pointed on the end instead of bobbed off like our native
dogwood, giving the appearance of white four-pointed stars against the dense
green background foliage. The individual petals -- actually modified leaves
called bracts -- are usually 2- to 2 1/2 inches long and about one-third as
wide. They begin as a beautiful light green and gradually change to bright white
as the flowers open.
In the fall, the Chinese dogwood produces round ping-pong size clusters of
red fruit on drooping peduncles that add another dimension of beauty to the
tree. Fall color is usually excellent, in shades of red to scarlet, and persists
for two to three weeks.
On old trees, the bark takes on a wonderful flaking characteristic which,
while not as beautiful as some of the crape myrtle selections, is still very
attractive.
The Chinese dogwood was introduced into cultivation in 1907 by the Arnold
Arboretum’s great plant collector, E. H. Wilson (1876-1930).
The best known selection of the Chinese dogwood is a cultivar called
"Milky Way," which was introduced by Wayside Gardens when they were still
located in Mentor, Ohio.
Wayside’s nurserymen grew an assortment of seedlings from as many seed
sources as possible and selected 15 trees that produced large bracts and had a
precocious flowering habit. This block of trees became the source of scion wood
when the tree was introduced in the late 1960's. Because 15 trees were selected
instead of one, there will sometimes be variation between trees grown under the
name "Milky Way."
The Chinese dogwood is easier to grow than our native dogwood, but it
still does best when given a reasonably fertile soil and good drainage. While I
have seen it used in the middle of parking lot islands in full sun, it is better
sited where it gets some afternoon shade.
It should be watered during dry periods, but otherwise requires no special
care. It is not as susceptible to the dogwood borer and, so far at least, has
shown good resistance to both dogwood powdery mildew and dogwood anthracnose
that have plagued our native trees.
Chinese dogwoods can sometimes be slow to flower. If grown from seed, it
is not unusual for trees to take seven to 10 years to reach maturity and become
old enough to bloom.
Even budded trees, which in theory at least should always bloom, are shy
to bloom their first few years. The best way to set good flowering is to avoid
overfertilizing while keeping the plant well watered during the early part of
the growing season. Then, after mid July cut back on watering and allow the
plant to experience the joys of an Arkansas summer. This more stressful summer
experience usually promotes good flower bud set in the fall.
By: Gerald Klingaman, retired
Extension Horticulturist
- Ornamentals
Extension News -
May 28, 1999
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