Szechuan strawberry, Japanese Dogwood
Cornus kousa

Family: Cornaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 3-6 m tall and spreads 2.7-4.5 m wide. The branches spread out in tiers. The leaves are deep green. They are 5-10 cm long and oval. They have 4-6 pairs of veins. The upper surface is dark green and underneath there are hairs in tufts in the vein axils. The leaves colour in the autumn. The flowers are small and occur in clusters in 5 cm long stalks. They have large white bracts around them. Each bract tapers to a point. The bracts are 5 cm long. These last for 6 weeks. The fruit are strawberry-like. They are dull red. They are edible.

There are about 45 Cornus species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is native to Japan. It is frost hardy. It grows from 400 to 2200 m in China. It will grow in most soils. It is damaged by drought. It grows on low hills near the coast. It suits hardiness zones 5-8. In Arboretum Tasmania. National Arboretum Canberra.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Canada, China, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Japan (country/location of origin), Korea (country/location of origin), North America, Northeastern India, Sikkim, Taiwan, Tasmania, USA

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. They are also cooked and used for preserves and desserts. Young leaves are also cooked and eaten.

It is occasionally cultivated as a fruit crop.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, flowers

How it is grown

It can be grown from clean seed. It can also be grown from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Dong yin si zao hua, Japanese strawberry tree, Kousa, Santtalnamu, Shizao, Shizaozi, Yamaboshi, Yelizhi

Synonyms

Benthamia japonica Siebold & Zucc.; Benthamia kousa (Hance) Nakai; Benthamia viridus Nakai; Benthamidia japonica (Siebold & Zucc.) H. Hara; Cornus japonica (Siebold & Zucc.) Koehne; Cynoxylon japonicum (Siebold & Zucc.) Nakai; Cynoxylon kousa (Hance) Nakai; Dendrobenthamia japonica (De Candolle) Fang; Viburnum japonicum (Thunb.) C. K. Spreng.;