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.
