Samaritan is a petite dogwood with interesting variegated and ruffled leaves. It's a sport of the kousa dogwood making it extremely disease resistant and a great selection for those looking for a visually interesting and easy to grow landscape tree. In the late spring it pushes out petite white flowers over top the variegated foliage. Through summer the contrasting white and light green foliage is a focal point especially in shady areas where this tree thrives. Introduced around 2006 by Lake County Nursery this is a rare tree with limited quantities. The fall color of this tree is outstanding as bright reds and pinks creep into the white margins of the leaves. The branch structure of the kousa is also lovely, with six branches appearing at each node and growing upward symmetrically from the stem to create an elegant cascade effect. Care should be taken when pruning as inexperience can result in diminishing rather than improving the cascade effect. Kousa dogwoods are resistant, but not immune, to borers and common dogwood fungal diseases. Like with all dogwoods, care should be taken to provide well draining soil rich in organic matter, and trees should receive extra care and mulch if planted in direct sunlight.
