As a gardening and landscape gardening expert , I have had the chance to take note and operate with different coinage of dogwood trees , including the flowering cornel and the kousa cornel . While both part similarity , there are distinct differences between the two .
1 . Bloom Time : One noticeable difference between blossom dogwood ( Cornus florida ) and kousa dogwood tree ( Cornus kousa ) is their flush time . Flowering cornel typically blossom about a calendar month before than the kousa cornel . In many area , the flowering dogwood ’s blossoms seem in former spring , while kousa dogwood blooms in late outflow or early summer . This difference in bloom clock time can be useful when design your garden or landscape , as it admit for a more protracted flow of dogwood flowering .
2 . Fruit Structure : Another distinguishing characteristic is the fruit bodily structure . bloom dogwood tree give rise bright red Charles Edward Berry - like stone fruit . These drupes are typically 1/2 column inch in diam and contain a single seed . On the other hand , the fruits of the kousa dogwood are a spheric pinko to red compound stone fruit . Each stone fruit is made up of several diminished individual fruits , creating a singular texture and appearance . These fruits are often larger than those of the flowering dogwood tree , reaching up to 1 inch in diam .
3 . Bark Texture : The barque texture of flower cornel and kousa dogwood also differ . Flowering cornel has a smoother bark texture , with shallow ridges and a grayish - brown vividness . In contrast , kousa dogwood has a rough barque texture , characterize by deeper ridgepole and a more dappled coming into court . Some gardeners appreciate the ocular interest provided by the distinctive bark of the kousa dogwood .
4 . Leaf Shape : While the overall folio bod of blossom cornel and kousa dogwood may appear exchangeable , there are subtle differences . The leaves of flowering dogwood are typically ellipse or elliptical , with enunciate parallel veins . Kousa dogwood folio are also oval but often have a more pointed gratuity and slimly curved edge . These slight variations in leaf form can contribute optical sake when comparing the two mintage .
5 . Cold Hardiness : In terms of moth-eaten hardiness , kousa dogwood tends to be more large-minded of cold climates compared to flowering dogwood . This make the kousa dogwood a popular option for gardener in northern regions where harsh winters are unwashed . If you live in an area with cold winters , the kousa cornel may be a better option for your garden .
While both flower cornel and kousa cornel belong to the same class , there are several differences that fix them apart . These include flush time , yield structure , barque texture , leaf shape , and cold hardiness . By see these distinctions , you may make informed decisions when selecting cornel trees for your garden or landscape gardening project .
Caroline Bates