‘Summer Fun’ Kousa Dogwood Tree

Cornus kousa ‘Summer Fun’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5a-8b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Tree

Height at Maturity: 10-15′

Width at Maturity: 10-12′

Spacing: 7′ or more from home, structures, and other trees

Growth Habit / Form: Upright

Growth Rate: Moderate, fast for a Kousa Dogwood!

Flower Color: White

Flower Size: 3-5″ in diameter

Flowering Period: Late Spring to Early Summer

Flower Type: Single

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: White with Green Centers

Fragrant Foliage: No

Sun Needs: Morning Sun with Dappled or Afternoon Shade, All Day Filtered or Dappled Sun

Water Needs: Average, Low when established

Soil Type: Clay (Amended), Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist

Soil pH: 5.5 – 6.5 (Slighty Acidic to Acidic)

Maintenance / Care: Very Low Maintenance, if any, when left in it’s natural form

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Heat, Insects

Description

The most vigorous Kousa Dogwood we’ve ever grown, with its brilliant white leaves with painted green centers the ‘Summer Fun’ Dogwood will light up your landscape. Though this one is exceptionally sun tolerant, we planted ours in partial shade because we think that’s where dogwoods look and perform their best, especially the white leaved varieties! The wavy, variegated leaves emerge in spring with stunning pink-white margins maturing to a white and grey green summer and finally to radiant shades of orange, red and pink in fall. Oh, we almost forgot to mention that this one blooms too. Large white flowers with pointed petals appear in late spring to early summer.

If you’ve hesitated to plant a Dogwood tree for fear of disease and/or borer problems, fear not. The dependable Cornus kousa dogwoods, of which ‘Summer Fun’ is one, have demonstrated excellent resistance to both the dogwood borer and anthracnose disease. In some areas of the U.S., anthracnose has almost wiped out many of the native dogwoods, Cornus florida. Not only does Cornus kousa result in a tree with stronger vigor and resistance to insect and disease, it will look and grow better in full sun than other dogwood species.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 10 to 15 feet tall and equally as wide over time, the Summer Fun Dogwood is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings or in a staggered row in sunny or shady landscape or woodland borders. Also nice to frame the corners of tall homes and to provide beauty around patios, porches and other outdoor living spaces. A fine addition to woodland gardens, white theme gardens, Asian theme gardens, wildlife gardens, and cottage gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 18′ or more for space between trees

Growing Preferences

Dogwood trees are adaptable to many soil types however prefer a moist but well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Though Dogwood trees will tolerate full sun, we think they look and perform best with some shade or filtered sun during the hottest part of summer afternoons. Constantly soggy or wet soils are problematic. Maintenance is minimal to none. Except to remove a stray or broken branch, no pruning is necessary.

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Plant Long & Prosper!

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