Eastern redbud vs Kousa dogwood

Eastern redbud and Kousa dogwood are often considered for the same spot in the garden (specimen, flowers, pollinator friendly). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Eastern redbud

Cercis canadensis 3.5 m × 3 m after 10 years

Eastern redbud is a small, often multi-stemmed ornamental tree: in spring, before the leaves, rosy pink to purple pea flowers cover the bare…

Small tree

Full sun

Part shade

from about CZK 3,700

Kousa dogwood

Cornus kousa 3 m × 2.5 m after 10 years

An elegant, slow small tree or large shrub that carries white, star-shaped bracts for weeks in late spring, then turns red in autumn and bears…

Small tree

Full sun

Part shade

from about CZK 1,700

Key differences

Eastern redbud grows faster than Kousa dogwood.
Eastern redbud also takes chalky soil, Kousa dogwood prefers acidic soil and struggles on chalk.
Eastern redbud also takes heavy clay, Kousa dogwood needs a loose, free-draining soil.

Which one to choose?

Eastern redbud is the better choice if you want quick results, the soil is chalky or the soil is heavy clay.

Watch out for

Eastern redbud

Its most serious disease is canker (a fungal infection that kills branches), and verticillium wilt can also take it; the purple-leaved Forest Pansy is particularly susceptible to the latter. The purple-leaved cultivars are less hardy than the green species: on young trees hard winter frost, cold wind and late spring frost can damage the shoots. In the hot summers of Central Europe the leaves scorch in full sun without watering, and the purple colour turns green in the heat. The wood is brittle, so branches split easily in wind and under snow, and the tree is not long-lived. It does not tolerate waterlogged soil.

Kousa dogwood

In the hot, dry summers of Central Europe the leaf edges scorch in full sun when the soil dries out, so mulch and water it. Chlorosis on alkaline soil and root rot in heavy wet clay can occur. Powdery mildew and leaf spots turn up, but it is far more disease resistant than flowering dogwood. Fallen ripe fruit is messy on paving and attracts wasps.

The data side by side

Feature	Eastern redbud	Kousa dogwood
Group	Small tree	Small tree
Size after 10 years	3.5 m × 3 m (uncertain)	3 m × 2.5 m (uncertain)
Ultimate size	4–9 m × 4–9 m	4.5–9 m × 4.5–9 m
Growth rate	Medium	Slow
Light	Full sun, Part shade	Full sun, Part shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic	Average garden soil, Acidic
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	Medium	Medium
Foliage	Deciduous	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, pink, purple	May–June, white, pink
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low	Low
Maintenance	Medium	Low
Planting distance	400 cm	400 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic	Non-toxic
Typical price	about CZK 5,000 (100–150 cm)	about CZK 3,300 (60–100 cm)

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 17, 2026

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