Plant for Success

Cornus kousa ‘Heart Throb™’ Dogwood

by Jim Matusik

People don’t plant enough dogwoods, but this is one you should try. It not only survives, it thrives. Bract color is pink to deep red, at least as dark as C. florida ‘Cherokee Chief.’ Flowers are larger than the species, around four inches in diameter. Kousa dogwoods flower later than the native Florida dogwood. It starts flowering in June and lasts through July. It’s nice to have a tree that’s flowering when others are not. ‘Heart Throb’ blooms at an early age, generally at three years from graft, and is a heavy bloomer.

In addition to the striking flowers, ‘Heart Throb’ offers so much more interest than the species. There’s something to draw your attention in every season. The fruit is an attractive, edible red drupe similar in appearance to a strawberry.

Leaves are shorter and broader than the species, a glossy green with a touch of red on the tips. It has great fall color, a deep orangered. In winter, you can enjoy the mosaic pattern formed by the tree’s exfoliating bark, which starts occurring at an early age. The tree will form a widely rounded head about 20 to 30 feet at maturity, with an equal spread.

‘Heart Throb’ prefers full sun, but can be grown in partial shade. The tree is resistant to dogwood anthracnose and other diseases. It has few insect pests and can therefore be grown with little chemical dependence. ‘Heart Throb’ is heat and drought tolerant and can be grown with little additional water to retain plant vigor. Cold hardiness is similar to the species.

It can be widely used in the landscape and makes a good companion plant with Japanese maple and dwarf conifers. Use it as a focal point to draw people into the landscape.

Jim Matusik, The Tree Connection

Jim Matusik is president of The Tree Connection, a wholesale nursery stock distribution company that works with growers from both coasts.