The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Tree, Plant and Wood I.D. => Topic started by: tsouzee on May 20, 2022, 10:07:31 PM

Title: Flowering Dogwood or Kousa Dogwood?
Post by: tsouzee on May 20, 2022, 10:07:31 PM
Hello all. First post here. I really like this tree and would like to plant one of my own. This tree is located in New York, NY. I can't tell if it's a kousa dogwood or flowering dogwood? I took some closeups to see if anyone can help. Thanks very much.





  
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/70454/20220518_130509.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1653098586)
 
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/70454/20220520_131952.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1653098585)
 
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/70454/20220520_131937.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1653098585)
 
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/70454/20220518_130522.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1653098584)
 
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/70454/20220518_130517.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1653098584)
 
Title: Re: Flowering Dogwood or Kousa Dogwood?
Post by: Old Greenhorn on May 21, 2022, 05:41:11 AM
Well looking at the bark and the points on the flower petals I would say it's a kousa dogwood also called Japanese dogwood. I don't think the flowering dogwood has those petal points and the bark looks quite different. Welcome to the forum. Let's see what @WDH (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=4370) says. I know the photo is from NYC, but where are you located?
Title: Re: Flowering Dogwood or Kousa Dogwood?
Post by: WDH on May 21, 2022, 07:40:13 AM
It is not the native flowering dogwood.  It is the kousa dogwood.

Virginia Tech Dendrology Fact Sheet (https://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=133)
Title: Re: Flowering Dogwood or Kousa Dogwood?
Post by: tsouzee on May 21, 2022, 08:42:09 AM
^^^ Thank you both. I kept going back and forth and just couldn't tell. I'm also in NY. I need to research which one will do better in full sun. Thanks so much.
Title: Re: Flowering Dogwood or Kousa Dogwood?
Post by: kantuckid on May 21, 2022, 12:52:57 PM
Wild dogwoods are plentiful near me and I see them flourish in the sun when driving. As a side note, I had a Red dogwood that grew in our deep woods for years then died away. Never saw a flower on it.
You might also look at the many Viburnums which some sort of resemble a White Dogwood when I drive through WV, they're seen often growing wild. 
Our yard Dogwood is a Cherokee that gets around 6 hours mid-day sun.
Title: Re: Flowering Dogwood or Kousa Dogwood?
Post by: WDH on May 21, 2022, 08:14:48 PM
In the wild, the native flowering dogwood is a shade tolerant understory species.  
Title: Re: Flowering Dogwood or Kousa Dogwood?
Post by: tsouzee on May 21, 2022, 08:58:46 PM
Quote from: kantuckid on May 21, 2022, 12:52:57 PM
Wild dogwoods are plentiful near me and I see them flourish in the sun when driving. As a side note, I had a Red dogwood that grew in our deep woods for years then died away. Never saw a flower on it.
You might also look at the many Viburnums which some sort of resemble a White Dogwood when I drive through WV, they're seen often growing wild.
Our yard Dogwood is a Cherokee that gets around 6 hours mid-day sun.
Thanks for the recommendation on Viburnums. I'll look into them more. Looks like there are many options in that species. 
Title: Re: Flowering Dogwood or Kousa Dogwood?
Post by: Larry on May 21, 2022, 09:55:30 PM

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10125/DSC_2603_-_Copy.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1653184298)

Now that flowers are gone for the year I can only identify the real dogwoods by the bark.....woof woof! ;D
Title: Re: Flowering Dogwood or Kousa Dogwood?
Post by: rusticretreater on May 21, 2022, 10:26:28 PM
The Flowering Dogwood is the state tree of Virginia.  The Blossom of the Flowering Dogwood is the state flower.  You will see them in the woods in the spring with their white flowers as you drive along the roads. Their bark is quite different from the bark shown in your picture.

The fruit of the Flowering Dogwood is quite different from the Kousa Dogwood. Flowering Dogwoods grow a cluster 3-5 oblong shiny darker red fruits.  The Kousa has a much bigger,  pink/red round fruit that hangs on a 1-1 1/2 inch stalk.