Kousa Dogwood Live Plant – 12″ Tall in 4″ Container – Outdoor Tree

Overview

Transform your garden into a captivating oasis with the addition of a magnificent Kousa Dogwood live plant. This particular specimen stands at a healthy 12 inches in height, meticulously rooted in a 4-inch container, ready for its new home. The Kousa Dogwood, scientifically known as Cornus kousa, is a highly prized ornamental tree celebrated for its distinctive four-petaled white or pinkish bracts that appear in late spring to early summer, long after traditional dogwoods have faded. Beyond its showy flowers, this tree offers multi-season appeal with attractive foliage, unique exfoliating bark, and red, berry-like fruits in the fall. Ideal for gardeners seeking a resilient and visually striking focal point, the Kousa Dogwood live plant is a superb choice for a variety of landscape designs, promising to be a cherished addition for many years.

Known for its elegant, layered branching structure, the Kousa Dogwood live plant provides excellent architectural interest even in winter. It’s a versatile tree that can thrive in a range of conditions and is particularly noted for its disease resistance, making it a more robust alternative to some other dogwood varieties. Whether you’re looking to create a stunning specimen planting, add a beautiful understory tree, or enhance a garden border, the Kousa Dogwood delivers exceptional beauty and performance. This 12-inch tall plant is an excellent starter size, allowing you to watch it mature and develop into a grand landscape feature.

Key Benefits

The Kousa Dogwood live plant offers a multitude of advantages for any landscape, providing beauty and ecological benefits throughout the year. Its unique characteristics make it a standout choice for gardeners:

• Spectacular Seasonal Display: Enjoy a breathtaking show of starry white or pinkish-white bracts in June, followed by attractive red, strawberry-like fruits in late summer and vibrant reddish-purple fall foliage. The ornamental Kousa Dogwood ensures continuous visual interest.
• Architectural Form: Develops a distinctive horizontal branching pattern, creating an elegant, layered appearance that adds sophisticated structure to your garden, especially noticeable in winter.
• Disease Resistance: Unlike some other dogwood species, the Kousa Dogwood live plant is highly resistant to common dogwood diseases such as anthracnose, making it a low-maintenance and reliable choice.
• Wildlife Attractor: The red berries produced in the fall are a favorite food source for various bird species, bringing delightful avian visitors to your garden.
• Versatile Landscape Use: Excellent as a specimen tree, an understory tree, or integrated into mixed borders. Its mature size and spread make it suitable for planting around utility lines, buildings, or walls.
• Hardy and Adaptable: Thrives in USDA Zones 5-8, demonstrating good cold hardiness and adaptability to various soil types, provided they are well-draining. This makes planting Kousa Dogwood a rewarding experience for many gardeners.
• Moderate Growth Rate: With a growth rate of 12-24 inches per year, this tree establishes itself well and gradually reaches its impressive mature size, ensuring a steady development.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper care is essential for ensuring your Kousa Dogwood live plant thrives and reaches its full potential. This resilient tree is relatively easy to care for, but understanding its specific needs will help you enjoy its beauty for years to come. When considering Kousa Dogwood tree care, it’s important to provide the right conditions from the start. The Kousa Dogwood prefers a location with full sun to partial shade. In hotter climates, some afternoon shade is beneficial to protect the foliage from scorching. Aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight for optimal flowering and fruit production. Good air circulation is also important to prevent fungal issues.

For watering, consistent moisture is key, especially during the first few growing seasons while the tree establishes itself. Water deeply and regularly, ensuring the soil remains evenly moist but not waterlogged. Once established, the Kousa Dogwood has moderate drought tolerance but will perform best with supplemental watering during dry spells. The ideal soil type is well-draining, acidic to neutral (pH 5.5-7.0), and rich in organic matter. Amend heavy clay soils with compost to improve drainage, and sandy soils to enhance water retention. A 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch around the base of the tree will help conserve soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds.

The Kousa Dogwood live plant is hardy in USDA Zones 5-8, making it suitable for a wide range of climates. It can tolerate winter temperatures down to -20°F. Fertilization is generally not heavily required once established, but a balanced, slow-release fertilizer can be applied in early spring before new growth begins, especially if soil tests indicate nutrient deficiencies. Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can lead to excessive leafy growth at the expense of flowers. Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring to remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches. Minimal pruning is typically needed, as the tree naturally develops an attractive shape. For more details on maintaining a healthy specimen, consult a comprehensive Kousa Dogwood growing guide.

Size & Details

This offering features one Kousa Dogwood live plant, standing approximately 12 inches tall from the top of the soil and rooted in a 4-inch nursery container. This size is ideal for planting, providing a robust young tree ready to establish itself in your garden. At maturity, the Kousa Dogwood typically reaches a height of 15-25 feet with an impressive spread of up to 25 feet, developing a beautiful rounded shape. Its growth rate is moderate, averaging 12-24 inches per year, allowing for steady development into a significant landscape feature.

The plant is shipped in its container with soil, ensuring minimal transplant shock and providing a healthy start. It is suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8, indicating its ability to withstand a range of temperatures. The tree will begin to bloom in June, showcasing its characteristic white or pinkish bracts, and will continue to provide interest through the fall with its attractive foliage and fruits. This ornamental Kousa Dogwood is an excellent long-term investment for adding beauty and value to your outdoor space.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: This Kousa Dogwood live plant is currently 12 inches tall. At maturity, it typically reaches a height of 15-25 feet with a spread of up to 25 feet, forming a beautiful rounded shape.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: The Kousa Dogwood live plant is shipped rooted in a 4-inch nursery container, providing a healthy root system ready for transplanting.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Kousa Dogwood is an outdoor ornamental tree. It thrives in garden settings and is hardy in USDA Zones 5-8.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This tree prefers full sun to partial shade. In hotter climates, providing some afternoon shade can prevent leaf scorch. For optimal blooms, ensure it receives at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the Kousa Dogwood tree care is relatively easy. It’s known for its disease resistance and adaptability, making it a good choice for both experienced and novice gardeners.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Kousa Dogwood live plant will arrive carefully packaged in its container with soil, ensuring it is healthy and ready for planting upon arrival.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: Kousa Dogwoods typically begin to bloom in June once established. The exact timing can vary based on the plant’s age and growing conditions.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: The best time for planting Kousa Dogwood is in spring or fall, allowing the plant to establish its root system before extreme temperatures.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: This Kousa Dogwood is hardy in USDA Zones 5-8, meaning it is well-equipped to survive winter temperatures within this range.
• Q: What type of soil does it prefer? A: The Kousa Dogwood prefers well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil that is rich in organic matter.