Cornus kousa ‘Gold Star’
Garden Plant Information

Cornus kousa Gold Star - flowers

 

Cornus kousa Gold Star - foliage

 

Cornus kousa Gold Star

 

Name

Cornus kousa ‘Gold Star’ (also called flowering dogwood)

Genus  

Cornus

Species

kousa

Cultivar/variety

‘Gold Star’

General description

Broad leaved deciduous shrub producing white bracts in early summer. Acid tolerant.

Season of interest

White bracts in summer, variegated foliage, hot summers produce fruits.

 

Key horticultural features

  1. Habit – spreading, vase shaped. H: up to 7m, S: up to 5m.

  2. Leaves – leaves have a distinctive droop. Oval, glossy, dark green leaves with a central splash of yellow; the centre turns red, and the edge purple, in the autumn

  3. Stems – older growth is brown, young growth is pink.

  4. Flowers – creamy-white bracts with some splotchy pink markings. May be followed by red strawberry like fruits in a warm year.

Cultural details

Aspect

Sun or semi shade.

Soil

Dislike shallow, chalky soil and do better in an acid soil.

Hardiness

Fully hardy.

Maintenance

Prune to keep size and cut out any dead wood in autumn.

Propagation

By seed in autumn or softwood cuttings in summer.