Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa 'Satomi')
Cornus kousa 'Satomi' is a stunning pink-flowering Kousa dogwood tree, ideal for zones 5-8 with low maintenance and excellent fall color.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’, commonly known as the Kousa dogwood, offers spectacular late-spring color, distinguishing itself with abundant rose-pink flower bracts. This cultivar is highly valued by gardeners for its adaptability and multi-seasonal interest, providing structure, beautiful blooms, and striking autumn foliage. It matures into an attractive, relatively small tree perfect for residential landscapes.
As a superior garden specimen, Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ exhibits better disease resistance than many native dogwoods, making it a reliable choice where anthracnose is a concern. Its low maintenance needs, coupled with its appealing structure, mean it requires minimal intervention once established. Gardeners benefit yearly from its pink display, followed by attractive red fruit and vibrant fall leaf color.
This Kousa dogwood cultivar typically reaches 12 to 20 feet tall and wide, retaining an appealing, spreading habit. Planting Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ ensures you receive layered visual appeal throughout the year, from the unique mottled bark revealed in winter to the vibrant colors that grace the yard in autumn.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Cornaceae
- Plant Type: Tree
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 12-20 ft
- Spread: 12-20 ft
- Bloom Time: May to June
- Bloom Description: Pink
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
For best results when planting Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’, choose a site that receives full sun to light part shade. Ideal soil conditions are humusy, organically rich, acidic to neutral, and most importantly, well-drained. This Kousa dogwood performs particularly well in sandy loam soils. Planting is best done during the cooler seasons, fall or early spring, allowing the roots to establish before summer heat arrives.
Establish a consistent watering schedule, particularly during establishment and throughout hot summers. Even though the maintenance level is low, this plant appreciates regular moisture, especially when sited in full sun, as allowing the soil to dry out can lead to potential leaf scorch. Fertilization is usually unnecessary if the soil is organically rich; focus instead on maintaining a layer of mulch to help conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature.
Pruning should be minimal, primarily reserved for removing dead, damaged, or crossing branches to maintain the natural, attractive horizontal branching structure of the Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’. Avoid heavy spring pruning, as this can interfere with the late spring bloom presentation. Clean up fallen fruit if necessary, although they are often left for wildlife viewing.
Landscape Uses
The ornamental value of this pink-flowering cultivar makes it exceptionally versatile. Consider planting Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ as a specimen tree near patios or entryways where its structure and flowers can be easily appreciated. Its size allows it to function well as a focal point in smaller residential yards where larger shade trees might overwhelm the space.
This Kousa dogwood is also highly effective integrated into mixed shrub borders or woodland garden settings, where its layered branching pattern adds architectural interest even in winter. Its ability to provide pink flowers, red fruits, and reddish-purple fall foliage ensures maximum impact across three seasons. When placed near lawns, it offers dappled shade without creating dense darkness beneath its canopy.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Fruit Qualities
- Showy
- Edible
Noteworthy Characteristics
The Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ is a specialized, upright, spreading cultivar reaching 12 to 20 feet, featuring abundant pink flower bracts usually opening in June. The oval, dark green foliage transitions to rich red shades in autumn, complementing the persistent, attractive red fruits. Mature specimens develop mottled, exfoliating bark which provides excellent winter visual interest.
Tolerances
- Deer
Potential Problems
This Kousa dogwood is praised for having no serious insect or disease problems; markedly, it shows superior resistance to dogwood anthracnose compared to Cornus florida. The primary cultural issue to monitor is leaf scorch, which commonly occurs in full sun locations if the soil is allowed to become excessively dry. Ensure deep, consistent watering during dry spells to prevent this foliage damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Kousa dogwood suitable for?
The Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ is proven to thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 8.
How large does Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ grow?
This cultivar typically matures to a height between 12 and 20 feet, with a comparable spread of 12 to 20 feet across.
What sun exposure does Kousa dogwood need?
For optimal flowering and foliage health, plant Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ where it receives full sun to partial shade exposure.
When does Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ bloom?
This spectacular specimen features its pink flowers profusely from May into June.
Conclusion
The Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ is an outstanding choice for gardeners seeking year-round beauty without high maintenance demands. Its reliable pink blooms, appealing size, and outstanding fall color secure its place as a premier specimen tree. Before purchasing, always confirm your USDA hardiness zone aligns with zones 5-8 to ensure the long-term success of your new Kousa dogwood.
Wildlife Benefits
The presence of Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ actively supports local ecosystems, particularly birds, due to its fruit production. While the berry-like fruits (up to 1 inch in diameter) are technically edible for humans, they are rarely consumed due to flavor, leaving them perfectly positioned to serve as a late-season food source for migrating and overwintering birds. Planting this Kousa dogwood helps diversify food offerings in your garden when other sources begin to wane.
Companion Planting
Due to the preference of Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ for acidic to neutral, well-drained, humusy soils, select companions that share these requirements. Excellent neighbors include azaleas, rhododendrons, and camellias, which thrive under similar conditions and provide complementary evergreen structure or early spring color. Pairing this tree with shade-tolerant groundcovers, such as hostas or bleeding hearts, can help keep the root zone cool and moist, reinforcing the medium water needs of the dogwood.
