Height: 25 feet Spread: 20 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 4b Other Names: Hybrid Dogwood Description: A beautiful tree covered with huge white blooms in spring, and foliage that changes to a rich red in the fall; grows with an erect habit. Grows best with protection from the heat & winds, well-drained acidic soil and best with some shelter. Ornamental Features Dogwood Kousa Tree, Venus is smothered in stunning clusters of white flowers with white bracts held atop the branches from mid to late spring. It has attractive dark green deciduous foliage. The pointy leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding red in the fall. It features an abundance of magnificent red berries in late fall. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up. The peeling gray bark and antique red branches are extremely showy and add significant winter interest. Landscape Attributes Dogwood Kousa Tree, Venus is a deciduous tree with a stunning habit of growth which features almost oriental horizontally-tiered branches. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This tree will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics. Dogwood Kousa Tree, Venus is recommended for the following landscape applications; Planting & Growing Dogwood Kousa Tree, Venus will grow to be about 25 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a high canopy with a typical clearance of 6 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. As it matures, the lower branches of this tree can be strategically removed to create a high enough canopy to support unobstructed human traffic underneath. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 80 years or more. This tree should be grown in a location with partial shade or which is shaded from the hot afternoon sun. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This plant should be periodically fertilized throughout the active growing season with a specially-formulated acidic fertilizer. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. Special Attributes Dogwood trees are under story trees that grow best in an established neighborhood that provides heat and wind protection from larger trees; it also requires well-drained acidic soils and adequate precipitation.The fruit is approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inch berries turning pinkish red in the fall, generally eaten by birds. All Cornus are classified as nontoxic plants.
