Cornus kousa 'Miss Satomi'
PINK KOUSA DOGWOOD
syn. C. 'Satomi'
Family: Cornaceae
Pronounced: KOR-nus KOO-suh
Quick Jumps
Growing Guide
Rainy Side Notes
GROWING GUIDE
Origin:
Garden.
Plant Group:
Tree.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: 2-9, 14-17
USDA zones: 5-8.
Heat zones: 8-5.
Mature size:
Height: 15 feet (5 m).
Width: 18 feet (6 m).
Flowering period:
Late spring to early summer.
Flowering attributes:
Umbels of small insignificant flowers with petals that are green to brown. Large, dark rose-pink bracts surround the flowers.
Leaf attributes:
Glossy, deep, wide leaves and deep veins, turn a showy red and orange in the fall.
Light:
Partial shade to full sun. Full sun conditions produce heavier flowering.
Soil:
Moist, well-drained, sandy to clay soil.
Feeding:
complete organic fertilizer
Propagation Methods:
Hardwood cuttings.
Pruning Methods:
Prune carefully so as not to ruin the look of the layered branches that make this tree so beautiful.
Pests and Diseases:
The kousa dogwoods are less susceptible to the dreaded anthracnose disease than C. florida and our native dogwood—C. nuttallii. There are mixed reports about C. 'Miss Satomi's' susceptibility to the disease.
Rainy Side Notes
Of the pink forms in the market today, Cornus 'Miss Satomi' is considered the best of all, but is often sold as C. 'Satomi'. The deciduous tree is a spreading, layered branching tree. Akiri Shibamichi named the pink dogwood after his granddaughter, and introduced it to the trade, in 1980. Seed from this dogwood has produced some tremendous new forms in the U.S.
DNA research conducted at the University of Tennessee shows Cornus 'Rosabella' and 'Miss Satomi' having the same DNA. These could be mismarked samples, so the jury is still out on them. Regardless, C. 'Miss Satomi' is a winner for the garden!
Regular watering at about 1-inch, a week during our drought period, is best for the tree; however, the sandier the soil, the more watering this tree will need.
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton