Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa 'Weaver's Weeping')
Discover Cornus kousa 'Weaver's Weeping', the weeping Kousa dogwood, perfect for small gardens. Enjoy stunning white blooms and low maintenance in Zones 5-8.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Cornus kousa ‘Weaver’s Weeping’ is a highly desirable cultivar of the Kousa dogwood, prized for its gracefully arching and drooping branch structure. This weeping form provides unique architectural interest throughout the year, setting it apart from standard upright forms. It delivers a spectacular display when its showy white bracts emerge in late spring to early summer.
As a small deciduous tree, Cornus kousa ‘Weaver’s Weeping’ typically matures into a manageable size suitable for smaller residential landscapes, offering reliable performance and better disease resistance than some native alternatives. Its aesthetic appeal is further enhanced by attractive summer fruit and brilliant scarlet fall color.
Gardening success with this Kousa dogwood is generally straightforward, as it is rated as low maintenance and handles various light conditions from full sun to partial shade. Choosing Cornus kousa ‘Weaver’s Weeping’ ensures year-round beauty, from its spring flowers to its exfoliating bark in winter.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Cornaceae
- Plant Type: Tree
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 8-10 ft
- Spread: 8-10 ft
- Bloom Time: May to June
- Bloom Description: White
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Planting your Kousa dogwood is best achieved in the spring or early fall while the plant is dormant or semi-dormant. Select a location that offers protection from the harshest afternoon sun, especially in hotter climates, though full sun is required for the best bloom production. The key to establishment is soil quality; this tree thrives in humusy, organically rich, medium-moisture soils that are acidic to neutral and reliably well-drained.
Once planted, maintain consistent moisture, especially during the heat of summer, as the species benefits from regular watering when dry spells occur. Fertilization is rarely required if the soil is organically rich; focus instead on adding a good layer of mulch to conserve soil moisture and help regulate root temperature. Pruning should be minimal, primarily focused on removing frost-damaged wood or poorly formed branches to preserve the natural weeping habit of Cornus kousa ‘Weaver’s Weeping’.
Monitor for leaf scorch if planted in a very exposed, hot, full-sun area, which is often an indicator that the plant is struggling with dryness. Ensure adequate space is given, as this weeping cultivar should mature to roughly 8-10 feet tall and wide, maintaining its appealing dome shape.
Landscape Uses
The weeping habit of Cornus kousa ‘Weaver’s Weeping’ makes it an outstanding specimen tree for residential properties where its graceful silhouette can be clearly admired. It functions beautifully as a focal point near patios, entryways, or centered in a lawn area, contrasting sharply with evergreen backgrounds. It is equally effective planted in small groupings to create a soft, flowing canopy effect.
Due to its smaller scale compared to many other flowering trees, this Kousa dogwood integrates perfectly into mixed shrub borders, providing vertical interest and seasonal highlights. Consider pairing it with dark green foundation plants or low-growing groundcovers that allow its branch structure and late-season color to truly stand out. Its ability to provide good fall color broadens its utility throughout the growing year.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Fruit Qualities
- Showy
- Edible
Noteworthy Characteristics
The Kousa dogwood, Cornus kousa, is admired for its floral display where the showy, petal-like white bracts surround the true, insignificant flowers, measuring 3-5 inches across. Following bloom, the tree produces attractive, pinkish-red, berry-like fruits that persist into the fall, often enjoyed by birds. The deciduous foliage turns rich reddish-purple to scarlet in autumn, and mature specimens feature attractive, mottled, exfoliating bark perfect for winter viewing. The cultivar ‘Weaver’s Weeping’ is specifically noted for maturing to just 8-10 feet tall and wide with abundant flowers displayed along its weeping branches.
Tolerances
- Deer
Potential Problems
This variety exhibits better cold hardiness and superior disease resistance compared to Cornus florida, making it a smart horticultural choice where dogwood anthracnose is a concern. Generally, this Kousa dogwood suffers from no serious insect or disease issues when grown optimally. The main environmental consideration involves sun exposure; in intensely full sun locations, the foliage may develop leaf scorch, especially if soil moisture levels are allowed to become too low during dry summer periods. Prevention centers on ensuring adequate, consistent moisture supply.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Kousa dogwood suitable for?
This specific cultivar, Cornus kousa ‘Weaver’s Weeping’, is well-suited for cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 8.
How large does Kousa dogwood grow?
The weeping form, Cornus kousa ‘Weaver’s Weeping’, typically reaches a mature height between 8 and 10 feet, with an equivalent spread of 8 to 10 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Cornus kousa ‘Weaver’s Weeping’ need?
This tree performs best when sited in full sun to part shade locations, balancing optimal bloom production with protection from the harshest intense afternoon sun.
When does Kousa dogwood bloom?
The blooming period for this cultivar is generally from May into June, featuring its signature white, showy bracts.
Conclusion
The Cornus kousa ‘Weaver’s Weeping’ offers gardeners a stunning, structurally unique specimen tree with the bonus of low maintenance requirements and strong disease resistance. Its combination of spring flowers, ornamental fruit, and excellent fall color ensures year-round visual appeal for any garden setting. Before planting, confirm that your local climate falls within USDA Zones 5-8 and ensure the soil is rich and well-drained to maximize the weeping beauty of this Kousa dogwood.
Companion Planting
When planning the immediate vicinity of your Cornus kousa ‘Weaver’s Weeping’, focus on companions that appreciate similar acidic to neutral soil pH and medium moisture levels. Underplanting with shade-tolerant, low-growing shrubs like Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra) or azaleas creates a lush, woodland-edge effect that complements the dogwood’s natural habitat. Avoid planting aggressive surface roots near the base, as this dense root competition can stress the relatively shallow feeder roots of the Kousa dogwood.
Wildlife Benefits
While the primary draw of this dogwood is aesthetic, its fruits do offer a benefit to local fauna. The berry-like fruits, which mature to a pinkish-red, are technically edible, though often left primarily for birds. Planting the Kousa dogwood contributes to local biodiversity by offering a late-season food source, and the structure of the small tree provides nesting opportunities for smaller songbirds once leaf drop occurs in the fall.
