Augé RM, Windham MT, Moore JL, Witte WT, Kubikova E, Klingeman WE, Evans RM, Reiss J, Flanagan PC, Saxton AM. 2002. Leaf curl and water relations of kousa dogwoods showing resistance to summer stress. Journal of Environmental Horticulture 20: 143-147. Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa Hans.) trees often develop unattractive leaf curling throughout canopies during hot and/or dry weather. Aesthetically superior trees were compared to control trees for their ability to tolerate summer stress, in an established kousa dogwood plantation in 2000 and 2001. An index of leaf curl revealed that superior trees showed less curling than controls during June, July and August of 2000 and 2001. Superior trees often had higher stomatal conductance than trees in both control groups during both years, with seasonal averages 16% to 40% higher in superior than in control trees. Leaf water status, characterized by leaf osmotic potential, remained similar in superior trees and control trees throughout the 2000 summer season. Leaf temperatures were similar between groups during each summer. We confirmed that trees initially selected as having superior visual appearance had measurable differences in foliar characteristics compared to control trees, and that these trees better tolerated summer stress.