Call us: 0800 843 752Free shipping for orders $150 or over
Gift Vouchers

empress of china dogwood for sale

If you’re searching for the finest empress of china dogwood for sale in New Zealand, look no further. Cornus kousa 'China Girl', often called the Empress of China Dogwood, is a show-stopping small tree known for its elegant layers of creamy white flowers and striking, glossy green foliage. Perfectly suited for both modern and cottage gardens, this variety brings year-round interest and is prized for its robust flowering display, attractive berries, and spectacular autumn colour. Whether you want to create a focal point in your landscape or enhance a woodland garden, the Empress of China Dogwood is a reliable and beautiful choice.

Cornus kousa 'China Girl'

Cornus kousa 'China Girl' is a small and popular, deciduous tree with large and showy, white flowers that adorn the tree in spring and are followed by red berries in autumn. The glossy foliage is dark green and contrasts perfectly with the flowers, and takes on impressive shades of red and orange before falling. It grows with a vase shape to about 4 m tall and 3 m wide. Cornus kousa 'China Girl' is commonly grown as a specimen and is excellent for including in a mixed planting, planting to border an entranceway, using in avenue plantings, maintaining in a courtyard garden, or including in a cottage garden.

A small Cornus kousa 'China Girl' specimen tree with masses of white flowers against green foliage.
  • Suited to regions:
    All regions
  • Plant type:
    Trees
  • Height:
    4.00 m
  • Spread:
    3.00 m
  • Flowering time:
    Spring
  • Tolerances:
    Hardy
  • Garden uses:
    Living areas, Parks, Specimen
  • Garden styles:
    Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern
Cornus controversa variegata (Wedding Cake Tree) specimen in a large garden.
Most Popular

Cornus controversa variegata

Cornus controversa variegata, commonly referred to as the Wedding Cake Tree, features tiered branches that bear leaves that are variegated cream and...

From$343.89
Cornus 'Cherokee Chief' specimen tree with masses of pink flowers in late winter.
Most Popular

Cornus Cherokee Chief

Cornus 'Cherokee Chief' is a small, deciduous tree grown for its impressive flowering and attractive form. Masses of rose-red flowers are borne in...

From$299.92
Cornus 'Cherokee Princess' covered in masses of white flowers.
Most Popular

Cornus 'Cherokee Princess'

Cornus 'Cherokee Princess' is grown for its lovely flowering, attractive form, and colourful foliage. Leaves emerge light green in spring, age to...

From$299.92
Cornus 'Eddies White Wonder' white flowers held on trailing stems.
Most Popular

Cornus 'Eddie's White Wonder'

Cornus 'Eddie's White Wonder' is a deciduous dogwood tree renowned for its impressive spring blossoms and vibrant autumn foliage. This hybrid...

From$343.89
Cornus stolonifera 'Flaviramea' plants with yellow stems.
Most Popular

Cornus stolonifera 'Flaviramea'

Cornus stolonifera Flaviramea, commonly known as the Yellow Stem Dogwood, is a shrub that features bright yellow stems which become more pronounced...

From$299.92
malus-wrights-scarlet-2
Most Popular

Malus Wrights Scarlet

Malus Wrights Scarlet is variety of Crabapple that features flower buds that open in spring to reveal showy, white blossoms just as the foliage...

From$343.89
magnolia-grandiflora-jade-emperor-
Most Popular

Magnolia Jade Emperor (Evergreen Magnolia Jade Emperor)

Magnolia grandiflora Jade Emperor, commonly known as Southern Magnolia or Evergreen Magnolia, is a small tree that produces masses of large and...

From$343.89
prunus-yedoensis-6
Most Popular

Prunus yedoensis

Prunus yedoensis, commonly known as the Yoshino cherry, is celebrated for its profuse white blossoms in early spring. This deciduous tree grows to...

From$343.89
Beautiful Prunus 'Shimidsu Sakura' pink and white blossoms.
Most Popular

Prunus Shimidsu Sakura

Prunus 'Shimidsu Sakura' is an elegant deciduous tree celebrated for its abundant pink blossoms that brighten gardens in spring. Its upright growth...

From$343.89
Cordyline 'Broadsword' plants for sale at The Plant Company nursery.
Most Popular

Cordyline Broadsword

Cordyline 'Broadsword' is a smaller variety of the commonly known Cabbage Tree, and features broad, bright green leaves held on a small tree. It...

From$29.63
Cornus kousa 'China Girl'

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring Cornus or Deciduous Trees.

Search Cornus kousa 'China Girl'

Features and Benefits

Cornus kousa 'China Girl' is renowned for its profusion of star-shaped white flowers that appear in late spring and early summer, followed by clusters of ornamental red berries that attract birds and wildlife. Its dark green leaves turn rich shades of red and purple in autumn, ensuring a vibrant display in every season. This dogwood is also notably disease-resistant and adapts well to various garden conditions, including partial shade and acidic soils.

Planting and Care Tips

When selecting empress of china dogwood for sale, look for healthy, well-rooted specimens. This tree thrives in well-drained soils and prefers a position with morning sun and afternoon shade, especially in hotter regions. Regular watering during the first few years helps establish a strong root system, while annual mulching keeps roots cool and retains helpful moisture. Pruning is generally unnecessary except for removing dead or crossing branches to maintain its lovely shape.

Design Ideas and Companion Plants

The Empress of China Dogwood shines as a feature tree, but also pairs beautifully with other ornamental trees and shrubs. For layered interest and complementary foliage or flower colour, consider planting alongside Cornus controversa variegata, the striking Cornus Cherokee Chief, or Cornus 'Cherokee Princess'. These varieties offer a mix of flower and leaf colour, extending your garden’s seasonal display.

For gardeners looking to create a striking contrast in form or texture, nearby plantings of Cornus stolonifera 'Flaviramea' or the delicate white blooms of Cornus 'Eddie's White Wonder' work beautifully. You might also pair the Empress of China Dogwood with other feature trees like the unique Davidia involucrata (Ghost Tree) or the flowering Prunus mume.

Why Choose Cornus kousa 'China Girl'?

Beyond its stunning floral show and reliable performance, the Empress of China Dogwood fits effortlessly into New Zealand gardens, offering structure and colour through every season. Its manageable size makes it ideal for smaller gardens and urban landscapes, while its resilience ensures minimal fuss for busy gardeners. If you’re ready to enhance your landscape, browse our broad selection and discover the finest empress of china dogwood for sale as well as exciting alternatives such as Magnolia Sundew (Sundew Magnolia Tree), Melaleuca linariifolia, and Prumnopitys taxifolia (Matai).

Add the enduring beauty and brilliance of Cornus kousa 'China Girl' to your outdoor sanctuary and enjoy an ever-changing display of flowers, fruit, and foliage for years to come.


Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

–The Plant Company

Explore Garden Inspiration

Sign up to receive a free $10 Voucher You won’t be bombarded with emails, just titbits of quality information from time to time Sign up
Free shipping on orders over $150!

Join our community of happy customers.

4.8

445 Google reviews