I decided that if I waited until I got back from Maryland to take pictures of the blooms from our new Venus Dogwood (Cornus Kousa Venus), they might be gone. I really wasn’t expecting any this year since we just planted it a month ago, but got a surprise when a handful of buds appeared. Still, since most of the tree’s energy is going into the roots this spring, I wondered what we would get.
Considering the stress the tree is under putting roots down into its new surroundings, these blooms are pretty good. They aren’t six inches as advertised, but they’re about four and I suspect they’ll be larger and more plentiful next year. And they definitely come out later in the spring — this tree probably came north from a warmer Tennessee climate, so next year it will bloom a couple of weeks later here in Ohio. Still, our red dogwoods have already dropped their petals, and the white one is on its last legs. Both of them bloom before the leaves come out, but the Venus dogwood already had large green leaves before the blooms appeared.
And the blooms are very different. Here’s a comparison (which wasn’t easy in the evening sun) — at left is one of the remaining blooms from our “regular” white dogwood (3″), and at right one from the Venus dogwood (4″).
wow, beautiful Greg! my one and only dogwood died, just the regular ol variety…this one is awesome! enjoy!
Oh, my! How beautiful, and the blooms at maturity will be in the 6″ size!!! I may have to find one of these beauties to plant. Love the dogwoods! Thanks for sharing.
Nelda Deakins in TN
I HAVE A DOGWOOD 20 YRS OLD NEVER BLOOMED IN OHIO ANY SUGGESTIONS?
Stop by a nursery or garden center in your area and ask to speak with the head nurseryman. We usually get great advice from them (many of the other workers are seasonal and aren’t as familiar with what makes plants tick).
The blooms are beautiful, but I have a white dogwood tree in my yard that is putting out blooms in August. Has anyone ever had this happen? My tree always blooms in April right around Easter usually, and I have never had it bloom in August before.