Cornus kousa 'MILKY WAY'

Japanese dogwoods are very popular shrubs in our climate because they have unusual flowers and habit and are fully hardy here.

Milky Way is an old time favourite. It has snow white to creamy white flowers. Technically, they are not flowers but 4 flower bracts composed around small flower heads. They are 6-10 cm wide and conspicuous as they come out in June when the shrub is in leaf, and the foliage makes a dense, green background. Flowers are followed by edible, bright pink fruit that looks like litchi. This variety flowers and fruits abundantly and reliably every year.

Pointed leaves are deciduous, ovate, dark green and slightly drooping. The best show begins in early autumn when they turn to orangey-red or vivid-red or bright purple. They grow quite slowly, making upright branches first and then spreading horizontal canopy on every upright stem. So it maturity, it gets wider than tall. Its usual height seldom reaches 3m, taller plants can only be seen in arboretums where they have plenty of room for extensive root system.

Every dogwood likes acidic soil, rich in organic material, and always moist. Some gardeners advise planting it in semi-shade to reduce summer sunlight but we do not recommend that. Plant it in full sun and mulch the roots well. In dry spells provide extra watering and thus you can be sure your dogwood will flower profusely and will be richer and healthier. Use of selective fertilizers supporting flowering and leaf colour is advised. Fully hardy to about -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 16-01-2009.