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Did I really get a Kousa Dogwood?

13 years ago

I just bought a kousa dogwood at what I thought was a great price at a box store, but now I'm having doubts. The label said it's a Cornus kousa, but I noticed after I got it home that it has several buds on it, and it doesn't have leaves yet. My understanding is that kousas get leaves first and flowers later. I've stayed away from Cornus florida due to disease issues, but I'm starting to wonder if that's what they're really selling. I have a few C. florida x C. kousa hybrids, as well as a couple C. nuttallii x C. kousa hybrids, and the buds and growth favor those more than the C. kousas that I have already. All my trees are young, though, so I'm not sure if that's a factor.

Is there a way to be sure if it's a kousa or a florida? If it's really a kousa, I might want another one.

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Comments (7)

picea
13 years ago
Do a google search of the flower buds of each. They will indicate what you have.
arktrees
13 years ago
Our Milky Way is developing leaves as I type, but the flower buds are also activated at the same time. They simply take longer to develop to the full show. However if you have flower buds obviously developing, and not leaves developing, then you have C. florida, or MAYBE one of the hybrids. If you can post a picture, and we will try to help.

Arktrees
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There is a new Cornus kousa x nuttallii hybrid called 'Venus' that is worth checking out. The flowering bracts are very white and look like fluttering moths or handkerchiefs. I have not grown it, but have seen it flowering in its pots, and it is truly phenomenal. I have added a link with its picture. http://www.about-garden.com/a/en/3209-x-cornus-kn30-8-venus-r-dogwood/
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I do recall that the dead one did seem to roll its leaves a bit...I had never seen a Kousa before, and I thought those leaves looked a bit funny, but wasn't sure. I will see what happens when it leafs out...and I am going to go check it to see how secure it is. I can't recall how exactly we dug that hole...I had a young man helping me, and he has been known to occasionally cut corners. Can't remember if I left him to his own devices, or if I helped with the actual planting. I do know that I loosened the roots, though. Should I consider digging it up after all these years?
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Almost certainly those are seed grown trees, and assuming that is in fact the case, you may be waiting a few more years. Seed grown trees have to mature for a number of years (only they know how many) before they will flower. A grafted tree, takes a branch of another tree that becomes attached to the rootstock (another probable seed grown tree). This grafted portion "knows" that it is already some years old genetically, and therefore will begin flowering earlier. You likely seed grown tree will flower, but nobody can say how long that will be. BTW, flower buds are set in late summer the year before flowering, so you can examine your tree in the fall and determine if it will likely flower the following spring. The flower buds look kinda like an teardrop shaped onion in shape.You can find pictures on the net. Arktrees
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No, it's all the way around (though, I suppose that would still mean lawn side, as it is in the middle of the yard). I do have a lawn service that fertilizes every two months year round, but he does not use spray. He just uses the standard pellet fertilizer, just like you would buy at Home Depot. Other than that, I have not put any sort of food or fertilizer on the tree (that I can recall). Here is a picture of the tree from further back.
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lucretia1
Original Author
13 years ago
Here are some photos of the buds/twigs. Even though both the pot and label were marked "Kousa Dogwood", I think it might be C. florida. I've had a hard time telling from photos of buds on line--there aren't that many taken at this stage that I've seen. Some of the C. florida buds look flatter and less spherical, but the kousa buds look like they have more pointed bracts. There's no sign of a graft, so I don't think it's one of the hybrids.

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arktrees
13 years ago
lucretia,
C. florida is native to my area, and I have to say the pictures you posted look like C. florida in early spring. Also on our kousa, the flower buds have leaves that sprout out with them. "Naked" flower buds as you have, are the norm for C. florida. So in short, I think you are correct, I think you have C. florida.

Arktrees
lucretia1
Original Author
13 years ago
It sure looks more like a C. florida than my other kousas. Wish I had noticed before I got it home and in the ground. I've tried to stay away from C. florida due to anthracnose problems. At least it has a warranty--if it gets horrible disease this year, it can go back. Not worth digging up at this point.
denninmi
13 years ago
Yup, round, kind of flattened bud = C. florida. Pointy bud = C. kousa.
snasxs
13 years ago
A healthy C florida is also beautiful!

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