Chinese Dogwood

Basic Information

Tree ID:

150

Family:

Cornus

Genus and species:

Cornus kousa

Variety:

Dogwood

Description:

The Chinese Dogwood Tree, or Cornus kousa, is a small to medium tree originally native to East Asia. It was originally introduced to North America in the 19th century. It blooms in late April to early May. Kousa berries are soft, sweet, and edible, with a flavor that is similar to that of a persimmon. However, the seeds are attached to the pulp, making them difficult to be eaten directly. The berries have a hard rind, which is often discarded due to its bitter taste; however, the rind is also edible. The kousa is believed to have transmitted a deadly fungus to native dogwoods in the late 1900s. This anthracnose fungus started to destroy native dogwoods in the U.S. (Cornus florida). At the time, the kousa was not considered invasive, as the fruits of the kousa did not appeal to wildlife in America. Its fruit was the original food for monkeys in East Asia. The kousa population was subsequently planted in the U.S to help mediate the loss of native dogwoods, as botanists thought the population could be controlled and regulated (thinking it could not become an invasive species due to the lack of the necessary wildlife required to spread seeds and eat its fruit). In recent years, the kousa has evolved to no longer rely on monkeys to spread and reproduce. Today, the kousa is now considered invasive in the state of New Jersey, as some researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst believe there is often a lag between when a species is introduced and the time it takes to be invasive. The kousa was previously hailed as a substitute for the dying native dogwood population, but today, it poses a threat and is another invasive species. This particular Cornus kousa tree was approximately 5.55 m and had three large branches that branched right from the bottom. It had many different branches coming off it and a DBH of approximately 23.7 cm. As of April 22nd, 2024, it has begun to bud; however, it has not fully bloomed yet. We can expect the tree to bloom in the Marsh Botanical Gardens in the coming weeks.

Surveyors:

Priyanka Jain & Claire St. Peter

Location

Area:

Marsh and Farnam Gardens

Collected Data

Tree shape:

Branched

Date of tree entry:

02/06/2024

Height:

5.55 m

Diameter at breast height:

0.02 m

There are too many multiple trunks to accurately measure the DBH, so this is just an estimate

Bark

The bark of this tree is a dark greyish-brown color, which is scaly in its appearance. The scaly pattern reveals a lighter grey-brown in contrast to the darker overall color of the bark. From February to April of 2024, the bark has not appeared to change much in its appearance. In young trees, the bark is smooth and light-brown, but mature dogwoods, contain these patches, as seen in this particular dogwood.

Twigs & branches

The twigs and branches of this tree get progressively smaller as they extend out of the base of the trunk. At the ends of the small twigs, we can see the beginning of buds beginning to grow (as of late April 2024). The twigs spread out in a branching pattern.

Foilage

The foliage of this dogwood has yet to bloom fully; however, we can see the buds starting to blossom. These buds will eventually become white flowers in the coming weeks. In autumn, the tree will begin to bear small raspberry-like fruits, which are red in appearance. The foliage also changes to a reddish-purple color during the autumn, in contrast to the white flowers that will blossom in the spring. The leaves of the tree have an opposite arrangement and take on an elliptical and ovate shape. The typical length of the leaves is 1-3 inches, and the typical width is 1-3 inches. The surface of the leaves is shiny and dark green, while the underside is paler and contains tufts of golden brown hairs. The leaves have also yet to bloom by this time of year; however, they shall emerge by late Spring. The last photo of the white flowers shows what the Chinese Dogwood flowers will look like once they are in full bloom. The photo credits go to:www.trees.com%2Fmilkwaydogwood&psig=AOvVaw1AQH5vA8CbDItXY9HFCkyc&ust=1713909291235000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBIQjRxqFwoTCJD1sObn1oUDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

Reproductive Structures

The Chinese Dogwood reproduces through the spread of its seeds, which are located in its fruit, which blossoms in the autumn. The seeds are spread this way, typically germinating in the spring, following the dispersal of seeds in the fall. Both male and female reproductive parts are on the same flower, making them hermaphroditic. Insects pollinate the tree, and the fruit is consumed mainly by birds and occasionally squirrels. The photo credit of the dogwood growth cycle is from https://goodmetavs.pics/product_details/35524680.html

Fruit

The Chinese Dogwood's fruit is red and resembles that of a raspberry. It is edible, and is similar to the taste of a persimmon. The fruit does not grow until the autumn. The fruit is 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter and is classified as an edible round drupe. The fruits are edible; in the United States, they are typically consumed by birds. While we have yet to see this particular dogwood bear fruit (from February 2024 to April 2024), these edible berries will grow in the autumn. The photo of this fruit is not from our particular dogwood, as it has yet to grow. The photo credit goes to https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cornus-kousa/

Seasons

The Chinese Dogwood in Early February, 2024
The Chinese Dogwood in Mid-March, 2024
The Chinese Dogwood in Late April, 2024.

Research

Natural range of distribution:

Habitat:

In the United States, the habitat of the Chinese dogwood is typically in open areas like lawns, with light shade, growing in well-drained acidic soil, that is not waterlogged. The Chinese Dogwood is native to East Asia. However, it was brought to the United States in the 19th century. Its fruit was the original food for monkeys in East Asia, and thus, it was not an invasive species when it was first introduced, as the wildlife in the United States was not conducive to its reproduction. The kousa population was planted in the U.S to help mediate the loss of native dogwoods, as botanists thought the population could be controlled and regulated (thinking it could not become an invasive species due to the lack of the necessary wildlife required to spread seeds and eat its fruit). In recent years, the kousa has evolved to no longer rely on monkeys to spread and reproduce. Today, the kousa is now considered invasive in the state of New Jersey, as some researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst believe there is often a lag between when a species is introduced and the time it takes to be invasive. The Chinese Dogwood is most commonly found on the East Coast and the mid-west in the United States, in places that are conducive to its growth, namely, in well-drained, non-acidic soil conditions that get light shade and are in open areas.

Origin, history, and uses:

The Chinese Dogwood is originally native to East Asia. As of today, it is believed to have been brought to the United States in the 19th century. It is classified as a small to medium deciduous tree. The dimensions of a typical mature dogwood are of a height of 20 ft. to 30ft, and width of 15 ft to 30 ft. Its flowers blossom in the spring, and are in a cross shape, with a size of roughly 3-6 inches. In the autumn, the leaves change to a reddish-purple color, and the fruit begins to grow during this time. The fruit is 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter and is classified as an edible round drupe. The fruits are edible, and in the United States, they are typically consumed by birds. Humans do not typically consume these fruits despite them being edible. The leaves of the tree have an opposite arrangement and take on an elliptical and ovate shape. The typical length of the leaves is 1-3 inches, and the typical width is 1-3 inches. The surface of the leaves are shiny and dark green, while the underside is paler and contains tufts of golden brown hairs. The Chinese Dogwood is classified to have a slow growth rate that requires low maintenance. The appearance of the tree changes as it matures, as young trees grow up in an upright fashion in a conical-like shape, but as it matures, it develops horizontal branches and becomes more wide-spreading. This particular dogwood is mature, as it takes on this wide-spreading pattern. The kousa is typically disease and pest-free, and it is particularly resistant to anthracnose fungus which threatens the native dogwoods in the U.S.

Phenology:

The phenology of the dogwood changes year-round. In the spring, its flowers bloom, while in the autumn, it bears fruit. The color of the flowers is white, and the color of the fruit is a reddish-purple color. It grows slowly, and throughout its life time, it gets taller, more widespread branches and canopy, and the bark becomes more scaly and darker throughout its lifetime. The leaves of the tree are dark green, however in the fall they turn into a reddish-purple color.

References:

“Cornus Kousa.” Cornus kousa (Chinese Dogwood, Japanese Dogwood, Kousa Dogwood) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Accessed April 22, 2024. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cornus-kousa/.

“Kousa Dogwood Tree Now Considered Invasive.” Wave Farm. Accessed April 22, 2024. https://wavefarm.org/radio/wgxc/newsroom/0mhwr5#:~:text=The%20tree%2C%20…

Christopher, Thomas. “The Imported Kousa Dogwood Was Once Hailed as Substitute for Dying Native Dogwood Trees. Now It’s Classified as an Invasive Species.” The Berkshire Eagle, September 14, 2023. https://www.berkshireeagle.com/arts_and_culture/home-garden/thomas-chris…

“Kousa Dogwood.” The Morton Arboretum, March 15, 2022. https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/kousa-dogwood/.