Cornus kousa
Kousa Dogwood trees are native to multiple regions in Asia, including forests of China, Japan, and Korea. The trees have been growing wild since ancient times, and the variety was then introduced to the United States in 1875, naturalizing in New York state. Today Kousa Dogwood trees are primarily utilized as an ornamental variety and are found growing in home gardens and forests along the east coast of the United States. In Asia and the United States, the fruits are found through foraging.
These are deciduous trees or shrubs belonging to the Cornaceae family. Also known as Japanese dogwood, Chinese dogwood, and Korean dogwood, Kousa Dogwood is native to multiple regions in Asia and has become a highly popular ornamental tree in the United States. There are over sixty-five varieties of dogwood found around the world, many with edible fruits, and due to the delicate nature and short shelf life of the fruit, they are not cultivated commercially and are primarily discovered through foraging. Kousa translates from Japanese to mean “dogwood,” and the Asian variety is one of the most popular cultivars, favored for its ornamental flowers and sweet fruit that is consumed fresh out-of-hand.
Kousa Dogwood berries are small, globular fruits, averaging 2 to 4 centimeters in diameter, and are made up of 20 to 40 individual carpels that join together to make a somewhat uniform, spherical shape. The fruits are connected to slender and elongated, fibrous stems averaging 7 to 10 centimeters in length, and have an unusual, ridged appearance. The skin is rough, covered in small bumps, and has a gritty, mealy, and unpleasant texture if consumed. The skin also transitions from green, orange-red, to dark red when ripe, and at maturity, the fruit will have a soft, giving consistency when lightly pressed. Underneath the delicate, thin skin, the flesh has a slippery, custard-like consistency and a bright orange-yellow hue, encasing a few to many small seeds. When consumed, the skin of Kousa Dogwood berries is discarded due to its astringent nature, and the flesh has a unique, sweet flavor reminiscent of stone fruit, mango, and persimmon.
Mature Size 15-30 ft. tall and wide.
Sun Exposure Full to Part Shade
Soil Type Rich, well-drained soil
Soil pH Slightly Acidic
Bloom Time May to June
Flower Color White, Pink and Red
Hardiness Zones USDA 5-8
Kousa dogwoods prefer full sun but can suffer from sun scorch. If possible, place it in a location that will receive morning sun and afternoon shade.
Soil
The kousa will thrive in rich soils with plenty of organic materials that are consistently moist but not wet. If placed in soils with a high pH, the kousa may develop light foliage, a sure sign that the tree lacks soil acidity, which it prefers.
Water
Maintaining moisture around the tree is good practice. Though the Cornus kousa is not considered drought-tolerant, it is more resistant to drought than native flowering dogwood. If dry weather is consistent, supplemental watering may be necessary for young trees. Newly planted trees need to be given a thorough weekly watering until roots are established.
Temperature and Humidity
Trees with shallow root systems benefit from a few inches of mulch to moderate the soil temperature. The kousa is one of these shallow-rooted trees. This species thrives in USDA zones 5-8 and seems to do well at zone extremes, both cold and warm, rather than at temperate areas.
Fertilizer
Before fertilizing your kousa dogwood, it is a good idea to test your soil. Doing this will help you decide if your tree can benefit from a general fertilizer or if it needs a fertilizer that is aimed towards a specific nutrient.
Ethnobotanical Information (Ethnobotany is the scientific study of the traditional knowledge and customs of a people concerning plants and their medical, religious, and other uses.)
Food or Forage Uses
Kousa Dogwood berries are primarily eaten fresh, out-of-hand. The skin is edible but is often discarded due to its unpleasant, grainy texture and bitter taste. To consume, the stem is removed, and the flesh is simply sucked from the skin. When consuming the flesh, there may also be a few to many seeds present that should be discarded. In addition to fresh eating, Kousa Dogwood berries can be utilized in baked goods such as bread, muffins, and pies or cooked into jams and jellies, but removing the seeds from the flesh is very tedious and time-consuming. In Asia, the fruits are also sometimes fermented into wine or juiced and mixed into beverages. Kousa Dogwood berries should be harvested directly off the tree and are recommended to be consumed immediately for the best quality and flavor as the fruits are highly perishable.
Recipes
Kousa Dogwood Frozen Yogurt
Prep time: 30 minutes | Cook time: 1-2 hours in freezer | Yield: 4 servings
1 cup Kousa dogwood fruit (about two quart-sized baggies full of fresh fruit)
1/2 cup plain, whole milk yogurt (I used Greek yogurt)
4 teaspoons powdered sugar
Lemon zest (about 1/2 a lemon)
Fresh mint leaves (about 4-6 leaves), finely chopped
Prep the fruit. Remove stems and gently cut in half. Remove seeds and use a small spoon to scoop the fruit out. After, mash the pulp with a fork to check for hidden seeds.
Combine fruit mash with remaining ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. The fruit should be fully mashed by now, so a food processor is not required – but feel free to use one if it’s easier for you.
Cover the bowl and place in freezer for 1-2 hours, checking occasionally for the correct consistency. Note: if the mixture remains too long in the freezer (for example, overnight), it will get pretty solid. It can be defrosted by setting back in the refrigerator or lightly microwaving and remixing.
Serve and enjoy!
Kousa Dogwood Fruit Jelly Recipe
Use 4 packed cups of ripe Kousa fruit (measured after it is run through a food processor.)
1 ½ cups of water
7 cups of sugar
1 packet of powdered pectin for 2 quarts
½ tsp cinnamon
4 cloves
¼ tsp nutmeg
1 tsp of pure vanilla extract
4 – 8oz canning jars
Fine mesh strainer
Directions: Set fruit and water to boil in a large saucepan over high heat. When fruit and water mix is at a boil, turn heat down. Mix sugar and pectin powder together into a bowl, then pour into fruit mixture while stirring. Stir until sugar and pectin powder are fully incorporated. Add spices and vanilla. Bring temperature back up and boil hard for 1 minute more – no MORE than a minute or it won’t set.
Strain fruit mixture through fine mesh strainer into a large bowl and press on the fruit solids to remove as much liquid as you can. Ladle jelly liquid into sterilized canning jars. To clarify the jelly further, you can use cheesecloth or a small strainer as you ladle the liquid into the canning gars at this step. Immediately as you fill each jar, wipe each jar rim with a clean moist cloth kitchen towel and twist the lids just into place. Wipe the jars down of any jelly liquid which as dripped on the outside.
As the jars cool, continue to gently tighten the lids. Some of the jars may seal on their own by popping but I always give them a 15-minute water bath to seal them well. Be sure to refrigerate and use any jars that do not seal. Cool on the counter for 30 minutes before storing.
Medical Uses
In traditional Chinese medicine, dogwood fruit is associated with improving kidney and liver health. As a tonic, the Japanese cornel fruit energizes the body and acts as a stabilizer for body fluids.
Dogwood fruit is ideal for people with liver and kidney deficiencies. People who experience leakage of fluids and excessive sweating may also take dogwood fruit. In general, dogwood fruit astringes the essence. It means that it binds the body and addresses disorders concerning body fluids in particular. However, it is also helpful to other disorders of the body.
- Stabilizes kidneys
- Tonifies liver
- Astringes essence
- Relieves frequent urination and incontinence
- Treats excessive sweating
- Stops bleeding
- Maintains urogenital health
- Controls blood disorders mellitus
- Acts as anti-inflammatory agent
- Serves as analgesic pain-reliever
The Kousa fruit treats symptoms of weak kidney such as dizziness, body pain, and impotence. It nourishes the kidney of its deficiencies and restores the organ to revitalize its essence. As such, the cornus fruit maintains general urogenital health. Recent studies show that the botanical iridoids cornus contains are a natural anti-inflammatory useful against diseases like inflammatory bowel syndrome, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, etc. It’s always promising to find an healthy all-natural holistic alternative to anti-inflammatory drugs.
Malaria and Fever Reduction: The bark of dog-wood trees contains quinine, useful in treating malaria. The tea also induces sweating, which cools the body.
Wound Care and Sore Muscles: For cuts, burns, and other skin wounds, try a poultice made from dogwood leaves. It is an anti-inflammatory and an analgesic.
Dogwood Bark Decoction is useful for easing the pain of sore muscles. Rub the decoction into sore muscles or use it on sore joints.
Other Uses
The wood from all dogwoods have historically been used for toothbrushes, daggers, and arrows. Many Native American tribes used the inner bark of the dogwood in a tobacco mixture for the sacred pipe, and often to enhance vision quests. This inner bark has hallucinogenic properties and was used in areas that peyote was not commonly found. Due to these hallucinogenic properties, it is wise not to use this wood for firewood, wood smokers, or camp fires.