Cornus kousa chinensis 15 seeds "Chinese kousa dogwood"

Cornus kousa chinensis is a small tree from Asia. Making a beautiful bonsai tree it can also grow about 20 feet tall in the wild. Winter reveals a very attractive mottled tan and gray exfoliating bark and a distinctive horizontal branching pattern.

Chinese kousa dogwood grows in a widely vase shaped to rounded form with a dark green foliage. An added bonus is a reddish Fall color that ranges to reddish purple and scarlet depending on climatic conditions. Clouds of white blossoms appear after the leaves in early Summer. Blossoms last as long as six weeks. The flowers are set among the leaves, instead of on the bare branches. The four white bracts, which are pointed at the tip, are greenish at first, then gradually change to a beautiful creamy white; one of the most beautiful of all flowering trees. Edible red fruits form in late Summer and persist through the Fall. They dangle like oversized raspberries beneath the horizontally arching branches.

Hardiness zones 5-8, (-10¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿C/15¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿F, -26¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿C/-15¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿F) in Winter. The Chinese kousa dogwood is among the hardiest of flowering Dogwoods. Best grown in acidic and well-drained soil, but don't drought tolerant. Grows in partial shade, especially during the heat of the day.

For faster germination, soak the seeds in slightly hot water for 24-48 hours, followed by 3 months cold stratification before sowing at 1/4" deep in your soil mixture. Keep damp soil, not soaking wet. Keep pot in warm situation 20¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿C/68¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿F, 24¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿C/75¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿F. Germination can take several months. It can be more depending on their degree of unbroken dormancy, don't give up.