by Suzanne French
For a real treat, head to Sycamore Hill to see the Kousa dogwoods in full fruit. The candy colored drupes hang on pendulous stalks giving the tree the appearance that it is decorated with upside down lollipops. However I assure you they don’t taste as such! Although edible, the fruit can be rather slimy to mealy and unpleasant for the palate. But you’ll still drool over the site of these trees. The fruiting effect is tantalizing and enhanced even more by the foliage which is beginning to turn reddish purple to scarlet. This fall color can last for weeks. In fact, Cornus kousa is an outstanding ornamental tree in all seasons. In winter, the horizontal branching structure makes for an attractive silhouette. Older trees, like those here in our garden, also develop gray, tan and brown exfoliating bark. Then in May and June the branches are smothered in white blooms that can persist for as long as six weeks. Growing 20-30 feet tall and wide these trees prefer full sun to partial shade. Many cultivars are available in the trade. As a note, the trees on Sycamore Hill are the straight species. Be sure to check out these alluring trees on your next walk thru the garden!
