Cornus kousa 'Schmetterling'

Cornus kousa 'Schmetterling'

A plant of exceptional four-season beauty, Cornus kousa 'Schmetterling' is a flowering dogwood that rewards the patient gardener with a succession of ornamental highlights throughout the year. In late spring and early summer, the branches are smothered in distinctive white bracts — each one resembling a butterfly in flight, which is precisely what 'Schmetterling' means in German. Strawberry-like red fruits follow in late summer, before the foliage ignites in rich shades of red, orange, and purple as autumn arrives.

Why Choose Schmetterling?

• Spectacular white bracts in late spring — a breathtaking early-summer display
• Ornamental red fruits in late summer — attractive to birds and wildlife
• Outstanding autumn foliage in rich reds, oranges, and purples
• Elegant, layered branching structure — strong architectural presence even in winter
• Slower growing and more compact than many dogwoods — well suited to smaller gardens
• A genuine four-season specimen shrub of the highest ornamental quality

Growing Conditions

Plant in full sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained, humus-rich, neutral to acidic soil. Avoid shallow chalk or alkaline conditions. Shelter from cold, drying winds. Minimal pruning required — remove dead or crossing branches in late winter. Mulch annually to retain moisture and maintain soil acidity.