Cornus kousa 'BIG APPLE' Japanese dogwood

Big Apple is a Japanese dogwood variety from the USA where it was discovered and selected by Polly Hill in the 1960s. The seeds were obtained from M.M. Brubaker of Pennsylvania and as the plants grew she noticed one that was different from the species. She named it Big Apple and while most contemporary horticulturists believe it was because of the large fruit, she also said in one interview that she liked New York, which is nicknamed the Big Apple, so where lies the truth? Certainly in Massachusetts where she founded an arboretum in 1958 when she was 51. She was not a breeder herself but she devoted all her whole life to growing rare plants and testing their hardiness northern states of the USA.

Big Apple is a beautiful variety of Japanese dogwood of a nice, well-branched habit. In June, it is covered with a profusion of small flowers surrounded by snow-white bracts which turn pink as they wither. They are attractive for as long as 6 weeks since the true flowers are inconspicuous and tiny, composed in about 2-3 cm wide spheres, which are followed by attractive, bright pink, edible fruits in late summer. They have a rough, bitter skin but sweet flesh with a few seeds. It is claimed that they can be up to 4 cm in diameter, however, our plants are still too young to produce mature-size fruit. So far we have collected fruits with a diameter of just over 2 cm, but we will see in 10-20 years.

The leaves are deciduous, dark green, medium-sized, conspicuously pointed and naturally drooping like, for example, pear tree leaves. Their autumn color is the second reason why we buy this beautiful tree: they turn several shades of maroon and purple with a hint of golden orange. Big Apple grows upright, 20-30 cm per year into a nice funnel-shaped shrub or small tree, so no pruning is necessary. If you still need to prune it, do so as soon as possible after flowering. Older shrubs make beautiful specimens suitable not only for Japanese-style gardens, especially when their lower trunks have been cleared and fancy understory planted beneath.

Every dogwood likes acidic soil, rich in organic material, and always moist but well-drained soil. Some gardeners advise planting it in semi-shade to reduce summer sunlight, but we do not recommend that. Plant it in full sun and mulch the roots well. In dry spells provide extra watering and thus you can be sure your dogwood will flower profusely and will be richer and healthier. Use of selective fertilizers supporting flowering and leaf colour is advised. Fully hardy to about -29 °C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 16-06-2024.