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C. florida
(Flowering dogwood)

C. kousa
(Kousa or Japanese dogwood)

C. mas
(Cornelian cherry)

C. nuttallii
(Pacific, Western or Mountain dogwood)

C. sericea, also called C. stolonifera
(Red osier dogwood)

C. sericea 'Flaviramea'
(Yellow-twigged dogwood)

The Kousa dogwood is native to both Korea and Japan. It reaches a maximum height of 15 to 20 feet and spreads 8 to 10 feet wide. Great quantities of snowy-white flowers, 3 to 4 inches across, cover its horizontal branches in early summer, about a month later than native American dog-woods bloom. The bark of the tree peels in oddly shaped patches, disclosing paler bark beneath. Its leaves, which unfold before the flowers, are pointed ovals, 4 inches long, that turn scarlet in fall. In autumn, the Kousa dogwood bears red, strawberry-like fruit.

The Japanese cornelian cherry is a dense shrubby tree that grows slowly when young, but the rate increases with time, and the tree eventually reaches a height of 15 to 25 feet. Clusters of 3/4-inch yellow flowers blossom at the tips of branches in early spring, before the oval 3-inch leaves appear. Oval red fruits, resembling cherries, ripen in summer.

HOW TO GROW. Both the Kousa dogwood and the
Japanese cornelian cherry are hardy in Zones 5-8. They tolerate partial shade but do best in full sun and grow in any moist, but well-drained, rich soil. The Kousa dogwood may be pruned in early spring, but keep pruning to a minimum as wounds heal slowly. The cornelian cherry should not be pruned until after blossoms fade, since the flowers appear on the previous year's growth. Propagate from seeds or from cuttings of mature wood taken in late summer.