Kousa 'Good-Fruit' Dogwood Seeds

From the variety, Satomi, I purchased the seedlings from Burnt Ridge nursery and grew out several of this ornamental form just hoping there would be pink flowers. They were not. However a few of them did have pink streaks within them. That was as close as it got. After having taste tested several types in another nearby arboretum, I was inclined to avoid them until a few years ago when I ate a few of the Satomi seedlings while collecting. It actually tasted good. Previously at the arboretum the Milky Way selections were very insipid with a watery often bland melon like flavor. Much to my surprise the Satomi seedlings had a pineapple like flavor much more pronounced than Milky Way. The fruit was also smaller and darker red. This was a possibility to me and soon I began to look forward to eating them while harvesting. To this day I have found other edible fruited Kousa's where they were specifically selected for size and flavor. But not the ones currently sold within the U.S.  I now have a non bearing planting of these new seedlings as well as the Satomi seedlings. Both of these will create the 'Good-Fruit' selections and possible offer cultivars if some are distinctively better in flavor. 

The Kousa dogwood and its hybrids are well known for its beautiful flowers. It is a popular landscape tree. Most of those fruit too. But the fruit quality for human consumption is of question to me. Since no one has really taken on the plant as a fruiting plant, I think my collection will add to this species for its edibility. The other aspect of it often not addressed is the seed count is quite high. I found by accident one year a tree with a massive yield and seedless fruit. The next year the seeds returned. This is common with this species where you will see yearly variations in the seed count. Several trees will also flower over a long period of time even flowering into early fall.  Further grow outs and then followed by culinary aspects of it will bring out this tropical flavored fruit for cold climates.