Who says white plants look boring? Certainly not the Chinese flower dogwood. In fact, he's a feast for the eyes.
The Chinese flowered dogwood (Cornus kousa var. chinensis) belongs to the species of the Asian flowered dogwood (Cornus kuosa) in the genus Dogwood (Cornus). It is an upright shrub native to mainland China and the island of Taiwan, and is mainly used as a garden and park plant in Europe. Its characteristic features are a lush splendor of small white flowers and red fruits reminiscent of raspberries. These can be eaten peeled, but the taste is uninteresting to unpleasant.
Flowers and Fruits
The flowers of the Chinese flower dogwood grow as four-petalled, wheel-shaped heads. They are usually brilliant white, but can also take on a slightly greenish or yellowish tint. The rather long flowering period between the end of May and the end of June makes the shrub a real eye-catcher. However, it can take a few years for the flowers to fully unfold in a new location.
The Chinese flower dogwood is a second visual highlight in September and October with its red, raspberry-like fruits, which sit on the branches of the bush like charming strings of pearls. They are not poisonous, but not recommended in terms of taste. However, if you would like to have more birds in your garden, you can hardly find a more suitable lure than these fruits.
Leaves
The Chinese flower dogwood belongs to the deciduous plants. The oval leaves have a smooth edge and grow opposite. They reach a length of about 11 centimeters and a width of about 4 centimeters. In summer the foliage takes on a rich dark green hue, fading to a soft red in fall.
Growth
The slow-growing shrubs are characterized by their straight, upright habit. They reach a height of 6 to 7 meters and can be 6 to 10 meters wide. The lower branches grow more horizontally and in tiers, the upper branches more upright. The bark is from gray tobrown in color and peels easily.
Location
Chinese flower dogwood prefers sunny to partially shaded locations and thrives best as a solitary plant in open areas. Within the first five years at the site, it is still possible to transplant the predominantly shallow-rooted shrubs.
The soil at the site should be humus or peaty rather than loamy or clayey. If the soil conditions are not good, you can remedy this with a gravel drainage in the root area to prevent waterlogging. In addition, it is advisable to spread a layer of mulch generously around the shrub once a year. If this is not possible or desirable, the Chinese flower dogwood must be fertilized regularly on loamy soil.
cut
Actually, the Chinese flower dogwood does not need to be pruned. But sometimes a cut is necessary. For example, when the flower dogwood has grown too big or it is crowding out other plants. Then simply thin out the shrub a little after flowering. You should not radically trim the shoots.