Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) is a vase-shaped small tree when young, but as it matures, its habit becomes more rounded and layered. The abundant white "flowers" of this plant are four creamy-white pointed bracts, each about 1 to 2 inches long. The true flowers are located in the center of these bracts and are insignificant. Pinkish-red to red fruits ripen in late August and persist through October if not consumed by birds. This tree has attractive fall colors, with leaves ranging from purple to red and scarlet. Kousa dogwood is a wonderful small flowering tree, providing four seasons of interest in a garden. It is native to Asia.

Members of the genus Cornus, commonly known as dogwoods, are welcome in the home garden for their multiseason interest—be it flowers, fruit, foliage, and/or bark—and their range of forms from small trees to suckering shrubs. The dominant display, however, varies among the species.

Dogwoods are native to cooler temperate areas of North America and Asia. The genus includes 45 to 60 species, divided into subgenera about which taxonomists disagree. The Chicago Botanic Garden's collection includes almost 100 varieties of dogwood from 20 species (seven of which are native) and more than 2,400 plants.