Cornus kousa is slightly smaller, on average, than florida, but much more resistant to various diseases which are decimating the latter. I planted C. florida ("Cherokee Princess" I believe) around Fall of 1999 and in less than 3 years it began a steady decline into death. It could have been environmental (meaning ME) since I was just beginning to garden at the time, but given the symptoms.....uhmmm....I just remember thinking I was cementing my place in hell for digging up a dogwood ;-D

BUT, IMO, if you have two healthy kousas, in-ground, at the prime planting time of the year in our area, I would leave well-enough alone and learn to accept them. In my mind, they are actually more desirable than our "native".

If you disagree I will expect to see two dogwoods miraculously appear on my front doorsteps within the next week ;-D

Enjoy Halloween and this Fall, Linda. You might be expecting a frost way up there in "nawth" Alabama.

Your friend,

Nelson

Nelson, you make some good points: but let me expand on my thinking about this- the main reason I wanted the "white dogwoods" [which is what I asked for], was to grow some more shade for a row of hydrangeas, some of which I traded for last fall at the swap. If I've read correctly, the Kousas -with their later blooming time- are going to be blooming at about the same time as the hydrangeas. Something I don't want [I think]. Now if I'm wrong, and this is a happy mistake, I'd appreciate someone telling me that, given my purpose in adding trees to the area. I should also add that my yard backs up to a wooded area, with only one native dogwood in sight of the Kousas...

Not one to care for all the Halloween hype, but the Fall has been glorious, and so yes, I am enjoying it. Thank you for your insights and friendship! Linda

OK, been reading more, and it seems that the Kousa canopy will be fine, so that issue goes away. But how about the bloom time being the same as the hydrangeas: Will one take away from the other? Will it be too much? Thanks for any input here!

Linda

Life intervened, the Kousas stay....hope to have pics to share next June...

When life "intervenes", it can be beneficial or not. I hope it is beneficial in your case, tndaisy. I hope you have pics to share next June, and I hope they include you and a certain "plant swap"! ;-) Best of luck, my friend.