Plant Details

Cornus kousa

Japanese Dogwood

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Common names

25 names · 17 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Chinese Dogwood[1]
  • Japanese Dogwood[1]
  • Korean dogwood[1]
+3 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (16)
Dutch
  • Japanse grootbloemige kornoelje[1]
  • japanse kornoelje[1]
French
  • Cornouiller de Chine
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 东瀛四照花[1]
  • 四照花[1]
  • 日本四照花[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • svída japonská[1]
Danish
  • koreakornel[1]
Finnish
  • liljakanukka[1]
German
  • Japanischer Blüten-Hartriegel[1]
Italian
  • corniolo giapponese[1]
Japanese
  • ヤマボウシ[1]
Korean
  • 산딸나무[1]
Polish
  • Dereń Kousa[1]
Russian
  • Дёрен японский[1]
Slovak
  • svíb japonský[1]
Swedish
  • koreansk blomsterkornell[1]
Ukrainian
  • Дерен коуса[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Cornus kousa — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • ヤマボウシ — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • 산딸나무 — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • kousa dogwood — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • kousa — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • Korean dogwood — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • Japanese dogwood — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • japanse kornoelje — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • 四照花 — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • svída japonská — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • Dereń Kousa — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • Дёрен японский — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • Japanischer Blüten-Hartriegel — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • corniolo giapponese — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • Chinese Dogwood — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • Snow Tower — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • Дерен коуса — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • koreansk blomsterkornell — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • 四照花 — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • koreakornel — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • Japanse grootbloemige kornoelje — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • liljakanukka — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • svíb japonský — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • 东瀛四照花 — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.
  • 日本四照花 — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 128614; Cornus kousa.

General information

Scientific name: Cornus kousa
Accepted name (Kew): Cornus kousa Bürger ex Hance View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Cornaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Cornus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Japanese Dogwood
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree, Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small, Medium
Height: 6.1–9.14 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Spread: 4.57–9.14 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Slow
Sources [2]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [2]
Growth habit: Erect, Horizontal, Rounded, Spreading, Vase

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [2]
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acid (<6.0)
Sources [2]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Leaves
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Wood

Description

Fruit - can be consumed raw or cooked. It is sweet and juicy, and tastes delicious in small portions. The skin of the fruit is quite hard and tough, but the flesh has a delightful, pudding-like texture that makes it one of our favorite late summer fruits. The fruit has a diameter of about 2 cm, and the young leaves can also be eaten cooked.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 14963; name ID 47266; Cornus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 986735; name ID 47414; Cornus kousa Bürger ex Hance.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Cornus kousa — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .