Kousa Dogwood Fruit, Tropical Flavor in Temperate Climates
Kousa Dogwood fruit is the primary edible part of Kousa Dogwood Cornus kousa), which is a small tree or shrub native to Asia that is now a very popular landscape plant in the US. It is also called Japanese Dogwood, Korean Dogwood, and Chinese Dogwood, there are many cultivated varieties in existence. The only place it has naturalized in the US is New York state but it can be grown reliably in many other states in the US. It currently has no major disease or insect problems in the US and is hardy down to USDA Zone 5.
Kousa Dogwood Fruit and Leaves Edibility and Culinary Use
The primary edible part of the Kousa Dogwood is its red berries which are usually produced in abundance in late summer. The taste is very good and unique for a temperate climate fruit. I always said it tastes like a cross between a mango and pumpkin. The fruits are about the size of a strawberry but round. The problem is there are usually a lot of seeds inside the fruit so you often don’t get as much of the edible part as you want. Good thing the trees usually have a lot of fruits. Selecting the best, ripest fruits makes a big difference as far as taste and texture goes. The fruit should be bright red and slightly squishy or soft to the touch. If it is hard then it’s filled with more starch then sugar and doesn’t taste nearly as good. The best way that I have found to eat Kousa Dogwood fruit is pull off the stem and suck the pulp right out, then spit out the seeds. It’s a great shot of flavor. The skin is edible but rough and grainy, so it’s usually best to avoid eating that part. The fruit is often used in pies and jelly. The young leaves are also edible when cooked but I have never eaten them.
Kousa Dogwood Fruit Health Benefits
More research should be done on the health benefits of the Kousa Dogwood fruit. It is known to contain calcium and fat similar to avocados. Check out BodyNutrition.org to learn more about where to get good natural calcium supplements. They also contain anthocyanins which are antioxidants but research is being done to determine weather we get any benefit from these anthocyanins after consumption and digestion of the fruits.
Conclusion
Kousa Dogwood is a reliably grown small tree. It gives us northerners a taste of tropical flavors. Not to mention the plant is primarily grown for its flowers which completely cover the tree in spring. For backyard foragers, find a kousa dogwood and keep an eye on it in late summer. It will soon be a favorite spot for a late summer snack. You can also purchase saplings HERE if you are interested in growing your own.
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Found several of these Kousa Dogwoods while on the edge of the Connecticut River in Springfield MA – at Riverfront Park. This has been a city park in Springfield for the 31 years that I have lived here. The kousa dogwoods that I saw look like shrubs about 3 ft high with lots of fruit. Maybe they were planted there by the city at some point or maybe they are here as wild plants.
I actually live in southern CT, so i\I’m pretty close. I have not seen any kousa dogwoods that I suspected were growing naturally in the wild. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, I just haven’t seen any. I would bet someone planted those at some point. Like you said, probably someone associated with the city.
I work in Princeton, NJ, and the office park where my office is located has at least five kousa dogwood trees, which are dense with fruit at this time of year (mid-September). I find the taste somewhat close to guava, which I grew up eating, in Central America. Some of my workmates have become fans of the fruit too, even if at first they weren’t sure they wanted to risk their lives eating a fruit that didn’t come out of a bag.
One question, any ideas about the vitamin content of the fruit?
I wrote this article a while ago. I’m not sure where I got the information that I included on nutrition. I even checked this database which I use a lot https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Cornus+kousa and they didn’t have anything about the nutrition either. This is one of those fruits that I wish had more analysis and studies done.
There are a couple large Kousa Dogwood trees in Silverdale Washington state, in front of the Kitsap Humane Society. Loaded with fruit, and looking very old and healthy.
Sharon from Houston Tx near Cypress/Tomball. Was in Wheeling W Va. 9-11-20, visiting my grandson who just enrolled on a football scholarship. You think that’s a far drive..his roommate is from Nigeria!! On my first morning walk from the hotel I followed a sign to see some historical homes. Lining the sidewalk was a number of Kousa Dogwood trees, all loaded with ripened fruit. I’d never seen such a bumpy berry looking thing but I googled it right away. Because I used to make jelly I wouldn’t use the outer tart skin. To remove seeds I’d rub them around a metal strainer to remove much of the thick fruit. Add sugar, apricot or pear nectar vs water, simmer for jam
Sharon thanks for giving some of your kousa dogwood jelly recipe. I still have yet to make anything out of the fruit. I usually just taste it as I pass by at right time of year.
Is the Kousa the same as the Chinese Empress dogwood? I’ve planted a Chinese Empress two years ago which is healthy but no fruit has developed. Does it take time to fruit or should I have gotten a Kousa?
Are you getting flowers? I’m not familiar with that variety and weather what they need to flower and fruit. You’ll benefit from another nearby dogwood to pollinate though if you are getting flowers.
It looks like kousa is a very similar species to ‘ empress of china’ dogwood. ’empress of china’ is cornus capitata subsp. angustata ‘Elsbry’. they likely have similar edibility, although I read that empress of china is sometimes bitter.