Courtesy Blooms of a Kousa dogwood in the IDEA Garden. This dogwood, from China, blooms later than native dogwoods.

You just thought the dogwoods were finished blooming; so come on down to the IDEA Garden and see one blooming beautifully, right now — in June!

It’s in the center of the garden. I introduce Kousa dogwood” (Cornus kousa angustifolia). Kousa dogwoods come from China and bloom much later than our native dogwood, thus giving us another nice small tree to bloom either in full sun or part shade.

If you have always wanted a small flowering tree that is evergreen, here it is. This variety is evergreen in all but the harshest winters down to Zone 7.

Bright white blooms with pointed petals cover the tree, and later in the fall, bright raspberry like fruits will attract birds.

Give this tree the same conditions our native dogwood demands — sandy, moist, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. This tree is proving to be very disease-free, which is an even better reason to have one.

This is the third or fourth year for ours and it is only 5 to 6 feet tall. It would look beautiful at the edge of a wooded area. I think you will start seeing them more often in good nurseries in the next year or so. Right now, you might have to order one.