Pink Flowers on a Kousa Dogwood?

While it was raining heavily, I stood in our mechanic's bay looking across the parking lot at this pretty Kousa Dogwood growing in front of the employee lodges.  If you look closely, you can see pink flowers growing on a few of the branches, surrounded by the traditional white flowers.  Like anyone would these days, I asked my AI app what causes pink flowers on an otherwise white-flowering tree. My best educated guess was that this was caused by a genetic mutation, something plants (grass included) are going through constantly.  Anyway, this is what I learned:

There could be several reasons why your Kousa dogwood has pink flowers:

1. Varietal differences: Some varieties of Kousa dogwood naturally produce pink flowers instead of the typical white flowers. It is possible that you have a variety that produces pink flowers.

2. Environmental factors: The color of the flowers can sometimes be influenced by environmental factors such as the soil pH, nutrient levels, and sunlight exposure. Changes in these factors can sometimes cause the flowers to turn pink.

3. Stress: If the tree is under stress due to factors such as drought, disease, or pests, it may produce pink flowers as a response to the stress.

4. Genetic mutation: Sometimes, genetic mutations can cause plants to produce flowers in different colors than usual. It is possible that your Kousa dogwood has undergone a genetic mutation that has resulted in pink flowers.

Overall, pink flowers on a Kousa dogwood are not necessarily a cause for concern and can simply be a natural variation in the plant's coloration.