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Re: Cornus kousa

The Japanese dogwood has one characteristic that has not been mentioned 
so far in this thread.  Its flowers face upward, and is best viewed from 
a slope, or, even better, from upstairs windows.  If you planted a new 
one recently, without considering this, I suggest moving it.  

I have several currently in bloom, the largest about 25 years old, and 
providing a magnificent sight from all the rear upstairs windows.

There is a sentinel type (C. k. fastigiata) along the driveway that would be 
spectacular if I had a tower from which to view it; lacking one, I can't 
really recommend this form.

My favorite is a deep pink one, about 20 years old, that can't be 
fully appreciated from the house, but which is right on the street so 
that my neighbors across the way, and passersby, enjoy and comment on 
it.  Despite the very deep pink (almost red) of most of its flowers, 
those blooming beneath its higher branches (and therefore shaded from the 
sun) range from light pink to nearly pure white, demonstrating rather 
dramatically that the color is almost entirely the product of 
exposure to light.  On the side that faces the house, it is shaded by a 
large sweet gum (liquidambar) and is pretty, but looks almost white from 
the front windows.  A large rhododendron hides the trunk on this side, 
and more than one visitor has asked me if there aren't two Japanese 
dogwoods over there--"the white one on this side, and the pink one you 
have on the street."  I'm planning to lop several large branches from 
the liquidambar, and next year the dogwood should be pink on both sides.  If 
you're considering a pink one, be sure to plant it in full sun.  If you 
already have one, it's worth it to saw down any larger trees that shade it.

Harry Dewey, zone 7a
Beltsville, Maryland 

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