Cornus Kousa ‘Heart Throb’

Description

Cornus kousa ‘Heart Throb’ – Flowering Dogwood

Deep Pink Bracts & Brilliant Autumn Colour – A Compact Ornamental Showpiece

Botanical Name: Cornus kousa ‘Heart Throb’
Common Name: Heart Throb Dogwood
Origin: Cultivar developed in Japan

Description:
Cornus kousa ‘Heart Throb’ is a compact, deciduous ornamental dogwood admired for its stunning floral display and multi-season interest. This cultivar is known for its intensely deep rose-pink to reddish bracts in late spring to early summer – among the darkest flowering forms of kousa dogwoods. The vibrant blooms are followed by attractive red, raspberry-like fruit and striking autumn foliage that turns vivid shades of crimson and scarlet.

‘Heart Throb’ features a layered, horizontal branching structure that creates a graceful, vase-shaped form ideal for feature planting. The dark green, ovate foliage is lush through the growing season and contrasts beautifully with both the flowers and fall colour.

Perfect for small to medium-sized gardens, this tree performs well as a specimen in lawn areas, cottage gardens, or shaded woodland borders.

Specifications:

• Height at Maturity: 3 – 4 metres

• Width at Maturity: 3 – 4 metres

• Growth Habit: Rounded, layered branching, compact and upright

• Foliage: Deciduous – dark green turning brilliant red/crimson in autumn

• Flowering: Late spring to early summer (October–November in Australia)

• Bracts: Deep pink to reddish, 4-petalled floral bracts

• Fruit: Red, rounded, raspberry-like drupes (ornamental and bird-attracting)

• Bark: Mottled grey-brown, exfoliating with age for added winter interest

Position & Uses:

• Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade

• Soil Type: Prefers moist, well-drained, acidic to neutral soils

• Uses:

  • Feature tree in garden beds or lawns

  • Understorey or woodland plantings

  • Ornamental focal point near entrances or patios

  • Suitable for urban gardens and smaller spaces

Maintenance:

• Low-maintenance once established

• Mulch to retain moisture and protect roots

• Prune lightly after flowering to shape if necessary

• Protect young trees from harsh wind and intense summer heat

Climate & Tolerance:

• Hardy in cool to temperate climates

• Tolerates frost and light drought once established

• Performs best in sheltered, well-irrigated positions

Key Benefits:

• Exceptional deep-pink flowering display

• Vibrant autumn colour and ornamental fruit

• Ideal size and shape for suburban gardens

Bring year-round beauty to your landscape with Cornus kousa ‘Heart Throb’, a compact flowering dogwood with bold colour and classic form – available now at Blerick Tree Farm.