'Wolf Eyes' Chinese dogwood

Chinese dogwood (Cornus kousa) is a popular 20-25 foot tall spring flowering tree which blooms two weeks after our native flowering dogwood (C. florida) has finished. The cultivar ‘Wolf Eyes’ makes a compact  8 to 10 foot tree or large shrub, almost double that in width.

Wolf Eyes displays an awesome leaf variegation which makes it a focal point in any garden or patio container. Its wide white wavy leaf margin is prominently edged on its olive green foliage. Leaf variegation is very stable, rarely reverting to all green. Summer foliage is also burn or scorch resistant, best where planted in partial sun in USDA zone 7 in the Southern Appalachian region.

The off-white four-pointed bracted flowers contribute very little, the small bracts muted by a standout variegated foliage. The green raspberry-like fruit size up and ripen to a reddish orange color beginning in late summer, attracting lots of famished birds to your property.

Chinese (kousa) dogwood prefers a deep, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. While moderately drought tolerant,  mulching and summer irrigation during prolonged dry periods is encouraged. Kousa dogwood is very disease resistant.