Scarlet Fire Dogwood

Scarlet Fire Dogwood (Cornus kousa 'Rutpink')

Scarlet Fire Dogwood is a vivid pink-flowering kousa dogwood valued for its deep fuchsia bracts, clean foliage, and strong ornamental presence. Its late spring to early summer bloom display brings bold color after many earlier flowering trees have finished, giving the landscape a fresh wave of seasonal interest. Dark green leaves provide a polished summer canopy before shifting to attractive red and burgundy tones in fall. With its manageable size, disease resistance, and colorful fruit, Scarlet Fire Dogwood is a standout choice for front yards, entry gardens, mixed borders, and specimen plantings.

Distinctive Features

Scarlet Fire Dogwood is known for its consistently deep pink to fuchsia bracts, which can create a dramatic flower display above the foliage in late spring to early summer. The bracts are often pointed and slightly separated, giving the blooms a star-like shape that helps distinguish this selection from many other kousa dogwoods. New growth may show a purple tint before maturing to dark green, adding subtle color even before the flower display reaches its peak. Rounded red fruit can develop in late summer to fall, adding ornamental value and attracting birds, while the foliage often turns shades of red and burgundy as the season changes.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Grows best in full sun to partial shade, with some afternoon shade helpful in hot or exposed locations.
• Soil: Prefers fertile, acidic to neutral, well-drained soil with good organic matter and steady root-zone moisture.
• Water: Performs best with medium, even moisture during establishment and benefits from watering during extended dry periods.
• USDA Zones: Hardy in USDA Zones 5 to 8.
• Mature Size: Typically reaches about 20 to 25 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide with age.
• Habit: Forms a small deciduous ornamental tree with an upright to rounded habit and a refined, broadly spreading canopy at maturity.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use as a bold pink-flowering focal point in front yards, entry gardens, courtyards, or open lawn areas where its fuchsia bloom display can stand out.
• Specimen Tree: Plant as a standalone ornamental tree where its flowers, fruit, fall color, and branching can be appreciated across multiple seasons.
• Mixed Border: Add to large shrub and perennial borders for height, late spring color, summer foliage, and fall interest.
• Woodland Edge: Use along lightly shaded woodland margins where it can receive filtered light, steady moisture, and room to develop naturally.
• Wildlife Garden: Include in bird-friendly landscapes where its late-season red fruit can add ornamental value and attract birds.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Water deeply during the first few seasons and during dry periods to keep the root zone evenly moist but not saturated.
• Mulching: Apply a broad mulch ring to conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature, and reduce competition from turfgrass.
• Pruning: Prune lightly during dormancy or after flowering to remove dead, damaged, crossing, or crowded branches while preserving the natural form.
• Fertilizing: Fertilize only when needed based on soil conditions, avoiding excessive nitrogen that can push weak or overly soft growth.
• Deer Resistance: Shows useful deer tolerance once established, though young trees may still need protection in high-pressure landscapes.
• Site Care: Provide good air circulation, avoid planting too deeply, and keep mulch pulled away from the trunk to support long-term health.

Why Choose Scarlet Fire Dogwood?

• Deep Pink Flowers: Produces rich pink to fuchsia bracts for one of the boldest color displays among kousa dogwoods.
• Late Bloom Season: Flowers in late spring to early summer, extending dogwood interest after many earlier bloomers have finished.
• Seasonal Interest: Offers colorful new growth, dark green summer foliage, red fruit, and red to burgundy fall color.
• Disease Resistance: Provides the strong landscape performance and clean foliage often associated with kousa dogwoods.
• Manageable Size: Fits residential landscapes where a smaller flowering tree is more practical than a large shade tree.

Scarlet Fire Dogwood is an excellent choice for gardeners who want a kousa dogwood with richer flower color and dependable multi-season appeal. Its fuchsia blooms, refined form, red fruit, fall color, and manageable size make it a polished ornamental tree for specimen plantings, mixed borders, entry gardens, and well-designed residential landscapes.