As I recall, mine did that and then started blooming around year 5. I figured it was transplant shock. Also, they don’t bloom until June in these parts, do you see flower buds?

tj

I am in a similar situation and have seen just a few out of mine that is probably 6 years in the ground from a very small transplant. It has not been very showy yet but is growing nicely where two Cornus floridas passed 7 years back.

Hhhhmmmm...maybe a cultivar whose flower buds are being killed in winter? Whatever its listed USDA zones are in the realm of US commercial horticulture, it covers a wide native range in East Asia, intergrading with evergreen (sub)species that are only zone 8 hardy, so perhaps it is a more tender one.

Seed grown kousas are notoriously slow to flower - 7-10 years. But that would not explain why it was flowering the first year.

I’ve been having same experience with two kousas. Both bloomed fairly nicely at about year 3 after planting, but since then pretty much nothing. Some years not even a single flower at all on either. Two different varieties. I was always wondering if when I planted them at the edge of an oak forest if they just want more sun. I’m finding most shrubs/trees here in NH want a lot more sun than in warmer zones. Fortunately the trees are beautiful and the fall color is great. But, each year I am sad when yet again, no flowers……..

I just looked up the plant tag for the first C. kousa we planted ('Milky Way') - 2003. I'm not sure how long it took to bloom well (pictures from 2000-2009) are on the hard drive of the old computer which is now in storage in the basement...) but I do remember being disappointed for the first few years....! It eventually did start to bloom well as it got older/bigger/got more light by leaning towards the neighbour's garden! So, patience.... Consider planting one of the variegated ones (e.g. Wolf Eyes). The first one I planted died as it got too dry in the place I planted it. The second one I planted near the dead stump of a pine tree so the stump acts as a 'nurse log' to hold water and provide nutrients for the dogwood. So far, so good... I don't care if it ever blooms because the variegated leaves provide a show on their own! I think the C. kousas need a fair bit of light to bloom well, so it'll be interesting to see if Milky Way changes much now that we took down the old sick ash tree in March this year.

Several kousas over the years and each took 3-4 years to bloom, if not 5. Scattered blossoms during those years.

All my kousas have had an alternate year bloom cycle. One year covered from tip to trunk with blossoms. The next year flowers but far, far fewer. I've observed the same with other woodies

such as viburnum plicatum tomentosum some rhodies and a stewartia.

Once the plant is mature enough to have many flowers the lesser blooming years are not as obvious.

If you dig down in the literature I'm pretty sure my experience can be confirmed.. It's not something the breeders and sellers advertise.

Marie - true re dogwoods having good bloom years followed by poor ones…! I’ve noticed that more in the dogwoods than other woodies but it’s probably true for others too as some do seem to have poor years on a regular basis if I think about it….

"I've observed the same with other woodies

such as viburnum plicatum tomentosum some rhodies and a stewartia."

With the exception of fruit trees, the vast majority of woody plants do NOT observe alternate bearing or biennial flower production. Once established, they will flower consistently year after year provided weather conditions are acceptable for the flowering.

I would be interested in seeing any scientific evidence that would support the alternate year theory. With a degree in horticulture and many decades growing and gardening professionally, I have never seen any reference to this outside of fruit bearing trees.

GG48, It may be your growing conditions vs. ours farther east. In my NH garden, my kousas definitely has some years better than others.

GG, don't know what to say except I see with my own eyes. My V.P. T. Mariesii varies from year to year. Not strictly non-bearing , bearing. More like 'light flowering/fruiting to heavy/prolific.

I've never tried to quantify the differences and I'm not going to to research it.

Let's just say it's one of the things you have not personally observed in your experience.

Not only have I never observed it, I find it very odd that this apparent phenomenon is not referred to by any authority on woody plants I have ever encountered. Pardon me for my dubiousness.

Perhaps a significantly colder in winter climate makes a difference. If so, I would say it is atypical rather than routine.

my kousas definitely has some years better than others.

Not that I want to join into the fray, but this might go back to my winter climate variability theory.

My kousa is blooming sparsely this year after a very full bloom last year. Both years had quite similar winters and springs. While there are definitely years that it doesn’t bloom to to particularly cold weather killing the flower buds, mine seems to have a natural alternating cycle as well.

Interestingly, the bloom on mine is sparse this year also, though it was spectacular last year. However, my crabapple was beautiful this year, when last year I had no blooms at all, go figure!