Asian flowering dogwood

Seeds: 30  / Botanical name: Cornus kousa var. chinensis

Small, hardy and flowering

The Asian flowering dogwood is rather rare in our latitudes, although it is completely winter-hardy and boasts a fascinating display of foliage and flowers. This small tree grows slowly, with its upper branches growing upright and the lower branches growing horizontally in tiers. Its slightly wavy, dark green leaves, which are covered with tiny hairs, especially when young, turn a vibrant yellow and scarlet in autumn. In May and June, it produces large, yellowish-white flower heads surrounded by four white petals, and in autumn it is adorned with dark pink, sweet, edible fruits (without the skin), whose flavor is reminiscent of lychees or raspberries.

Natural habitat: Cornus kousa is originally native to China, Korea, and Japan – the variety chinensis is, of course, native to China.