Kousa Dogwood and its delicious fruits!

These popular landscaping trees can be found all over my area, so I figure they'd be no problem to incorporate into my food forest design! Plants For A Future says the fruits are packed with seeds but absolutely delicious, and I'd love to give them a chance!



So who here on Permies has some experience growing Kousa Dogwoods for food? I'd love to get some more information and Google isn't turning up much.

How many years does it take for the trees grown from seed to begin producing fruit?

What kinds of yields can one expect per tree? What's the best way to boost their fruit production?

Do any North American pest insects, birds, or mammals enjoy eating the fruits?

What's the best way to preserve them? How long do they keep?

Hi Patrick,

Part of you challenge with this research is it happens to be an Asian fruit, so most knowledge is going to be Japanese, Korean, or Chinese. Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa ssp) goes by several vernacular names across Asian:

Japan ハナミズキ fruit 果実

Korea 산딸 나무

Chinese 四照花

You really have to ask at an Asian market of restaurant if you really want indepth knowledge. I know some, but would claim naivety in general.

Makes good wines, some difference preserves and a rather special kimchi 김치.

regards,

jay

Hey Patrick.
The best use of the fruits is to eat them fresh.
They don't store for long, they are really soft fruit.
I ate them the first time last year in some ornamental garden.
I ate them with the skin which is a bit bitter, but fruit is nice.
From seed you will need to wait 5-10 year for full fruiting (heavy cropper, you will have lots of extra fruit).
It's a large bush growing 4-6m high and 3-5m wide and tolerate most soils.

@Patrick...

We are planning to buy a large qty of seedlings for spring planting. Our knowledge is minimal as well; due to Asian influences in my life, I know of them and have tasted them; also, am aware of the culinary uses. We are located in Central VA, where they grow well. We plan to use them as a hedging type plant for aesthetic appeal and harvest the fruit for jams, syrups, and wines. Non-fruiting dogwoods are everywhere out here; we hope to inspire homeowners to plant these instead. Our gardens and keeps are being established with a mix of layout concepts to ensure productivity and beauty. Someday, we will be open to the public; we want them to see that polyculture landscaping creates the perfect environment for everyone. Any good information I locate, I will post or send directly your way.