skip to main content

Young Kousa Dogwood has never bloomed

fluffysquirrel66

10 years ago

Hi:) About 3 years ago, I purchased a Kousa Dogwood (Cornus Kousa) from Lowe's. It was very small when I got it;and now it's nearing 6 feet tall. The leaves are beautiful and full, but in these past few years, never a berry or flower. It is in a good location on the side of my house which receives part sun/shade which is what it should get according to the card that came with it--I always save these cards to refer to just in case. I am disappointed each year, thinking that this will be the year of pretty white flowers and berries. Instead; it's just a basic green leaf tree. There is no evidence of wood borers; trunk looks healthy; good drainage there and it's thriving nicely in and of itself. Not sure what else to do. Is there something I should add to the soil? I was using Miracle Gro Bloom Booster last year and was advised to discontinue that as it does nothing for this tree but encourage new leaf growth and no bracts. Did I get a defective tree? Thank you for all your input. I live in Southern NJ.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

arktrees
10 years ago
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
akamainegrower
10 years ago
Arktrees' response is right on the money. In addition to a long wait for any bloom, you also have no way of knowing anything about the ultimate size, flower quality, etc., etc. of a seed grown tree as opposed to a named cultivar. This is an excellent example of how those "bargains" at the big box stores often aren't.
Related Discussions
Can I transplant Kousa dogwood now?
Q
Comments (7)
This is good info. I also live in CT and have a Kousa dogwood that is about 15 years old. It survived our October snow storm last year, with the heavy wet snow weighing the lower branches down to the ground. It also survived a heavy pruning due to its growth compromising our power lines. Last year, I noticed a small tree growing in the garden under part of the tree. I suspected it might be a Kousa, and this year I was able to confirm that it is. Does anyone know how these trees germinate? One friend thinks that the tree came from the roots, like the aspens do. Another thought one of the fruits germinated the tree. Does anyone know? Thank you for any info. (I will be moving my little one this weekend, I hope it's successful!)
...See More
how to pamper a Kousa Dogwood
Q
Comments (5)
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?
...See More
Should I trim off the lower branches on my young Kousa Dogwood?
Q
Comments (4)
Actually, I have done this exact thing, starting with a much smaller 1 year old Kousa Dogwood seedling. Although its tendency was to grow in a multi-trunked habit, I trained it to grow with a single trunk. It was a painstaking process, pruning carefully over 5 or 6 years, and removing no more than 10% of the total wood on the small tree each year. So for example, I didn't remove an entire lower branch at one time, but headed it back by about 1/3 each year over 3 years. Once a tree gets considerably larger and its roots get established, you can remove more wood. I even transplanted it to a different spot around year 4. It is a very pretty and healthy specimen. The tree had its first blooms during year 7!
...See More
Kousa Dogwood does not bloom
Q
Comments (2)
what zone are you... and is there any micro climate?? is it a native.. or a named variety???? is it hyperfertized in any way .... like out in the lawn where you add bag after bag of grass food and chemicals ... contact your county Ag office.. or soil conservation office.. on how to get a soil test done for about $10 ken
...See More
gardener365
10 years ago
It'll be worth the wait. In addition your tree is working on producing a strong root-system these first five years of its life. And as the others are saying, seed-grown is different from a grafted tree.

Grafted-trees already have mature wood that has flowered so they will flower at an earlier age.

Be patient; you'll be happy with it.

Best regards,

Dax
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
I was using Miracle Gro Bloom Booster last year and was advised to discontinue that as it does nothing for this tree but encourage new leaf growth and no bracts. Did I get a defective tree?

==>> brilliant advice ...

flowers are an expression of the sexual maturity of the tree ...

it will become mature.. when it will .. there is nothing you can do .. to speed it up ...

transplanting it.. may or may not have slowed it down ...

all you can do is wait ... IMHO

ken
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
10 years ago
Fluffy, how is the fall color on your cornus kousa? Pretty good I bet.

Also, your tree has some advantages over the grafted ones. Yours has no graft line resistance to nutrient movement that causes the rootstock to sucker. Yours also is not a clone prone to the exact same dieseases as every other clone sold.
fluffysquirrel66
Original Author
10 years ago
Hi, everyone!! In response to Toronado3800, yes in the Fall, the leaves are red and robust; so pretty to look at and admire, so there's that:) There are no suckers at the root which is nice---there are many on my 2 Cleveland Pear trees. Hoping that patience is all it takes; it's a fine tree in and of itself; just looking forward to flowers and berries:)

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Kousa Dogwood

By Becky Harris

This four-season landscape star offers lovely pink bracts, bumpy summer berries and more

LIFE Houzz Call: What Has Mom Taught You About Making a Home?

By Vanessa Brunner

Whether your mother taught you to cook and clean or how to order takeout and let messes be, we'd like to hear about it

Spring Has Sprung: Windowboxes and Container Gardens

By Becky Harris

GARDENING GUIDES Top 12 Summer-Blooming Perennials for Deer-Resistant Drama

Can you have garden color, fragrance and exciting foliage with hungry deer afoot? These beauties say yes

TREES 6 Unsung Spring-Blooming Trees

Billowy blooms and rare fragrances will make you wonder how these flowering trees could ever have been underused in landscapes

HOUSEPLANTS How to Force Amaryllis Bulbs Indoors

By creative jewish mom.com

Enjoy vibrant red blossoms even as gardens turn snowy white, by teaching this hardy repeat performer to ignore the calendar

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Amelanchier Signals Spring With Airy White Blooms

By Ellen Sousa/Turkey Hill Brook Farm

With roughly 20 species of serviceberry native to the U.S., bees can feed on the early-season blooms while birds enjoy the summer berries

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Cornus Florida Benefits Wildlife

By Falon Mihalic

Flowering dogwood provides fiery red foliage in fall and beautiful springtime blooms

FLOWERS Get Coneflower Blooms All Summer Long

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Plant these 5 native species to bring beauty to the garden — and pollen to the insects — from June through August

HOUSEPLANTS Get Spring-Like Hyacinth Blooms All Winter Long

By creative jewish mom.com

Try one of these forcing methods for cheery, colorful flowers to brighten wintry days

Sponsored

Castle Wood Carpentry, Inc

1 Review

Custom Craftsmanship & Construction Solutions in Franklin County

More Discussions

Dappled willow tree damaged by deer

3

Japanese Maple for sun/shady deck

2

Paw paw seedlings or cuttings

7

Huge black maple in Michigan

4

Pruning of young Chinkapin Oak

3