Blue Ray White Chinese Dogwood – Cornus Kousa – 5 Gallon Pot

If you’ve been afraid to plant a Dogwood tree for fear of disease and/or borer problems, fear not. The dependable Cornus kousa, often called Chinese Dogwood, Japanese Dogwood or Kousa Dogwood, has 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. 

An unusual dogwood tree that looks like no other and is a multi-season color factory, the Blue Ray Kousa Dogwood features leaves with a blue glow that are the perfect background to a plethora of showy, creamy white, star-shaped, 4-petaled flower bracts that persist over a long period from mid spring to early summer. The foliage remains attractive throughout the summer and begins to turn a handsome maroon color in fall that persists throughout the rest of the season, sometimes well into winter. Following the flowers, berries matures to a pinkish red in summer and persist into fall. Handsome exfoliating bark adds interest during winter. 

A smaller growing dogwood 15 to 20 feet tall and wide over time, Blue Ray has interesting horizontal branches on a vase shaped tree when young that eventually matures to a rounded shape. Its showy spring flowers, colorful berries, good fall color, handsome exfoliating bark, and high resistance to disease make Blue Ray a fine addition to your landscape that won’t disappoint!

Chinese Dogwood trees are adaptable to many soil types however prefer a moist but well-drained soil that is 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.