Cornus Florida ‘Cherokee Chief’ – Cherokee Chief Dogwood

Botanical Name: Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Chief’

Alternate Name: Cherokee Chief Flowering Dogwood

The Cherokee Chief Dogwood (Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Chief’) is a wonderful ornamental tree for the landscape, prized for the profusion of springtime blooms it produces. This small deciduous tree has a graceful pyramidal form that can flatten on the top as it matures. It grows to a height and width of 15-30 feet. This tree is native to eastern North America and can easily be described as one of the region’s most beautiful native trees.

The showy, deep pink or red blooms of the Cherokee Chief Dogwood cover the tree in April or May. This tree can be planted with the Redbud (Cercis) species for a spectacular spring-blooming garden. The flat flowers consist of 4 bracts rather than petals, with the yellow-green, smaller true flower parts in the center. The flowers are approximately 3-4 inches in diameter.

In the late summer or fall, the tree produces bright red berries, inedible to humans but very attractive to birds. They can persist on the tree throughout the fall and into the winter. The leaves of the Cherokee Chief Dogwood are oval and dark green with the typical dogwood parallel venation. The foliage turns a beautiful brick red color in the fall.

The Cherokee Chief Dogwood can be susceptible to anthracnose, powdery mildew, and canker.

Description

Height: 15-30 ft.
Width: 15-30 ft.
Shape: Pyramidal, Broad
Flower Color: Red, Deep Pink
Flowering Time: April-May
Fall Color: Red
Features: Stunning spring flower display, bright red fall color, red berries in the fall
Exposure: Sun to Part Shade
Watering: Moderate & Regular
Soil: Moist, rich, and acidic well-drained soil.
Growth Rate: Slow
USDA Zones: 5-9
Uses: Specimen/accent tree, patio tree, lawn tree, massed plantings, mixed borders, wildlife gardens
Similar Trees: Chinese Dogwood (Cornus kousa), Stellar Pink® Dogwood (Cornus x ‘Rutgan’), Eddie’s White Wonder Dogwood (Cornus x ‘Eddie’s White Wonder’), Milky Way Dogwood (Cornus kousa ‘Milky Way’), Venus® Dogwood (Cornus x kousa ‘Venus’)

Additional information

Shape

Broad, Pyramidal

Flower Color

Deep Pink, Red

Flowering Time

April, May

Fall Color

Red

Growth Rate

Slow

Uses

Accent Tree, Lawn Tree, Mass Planting, Mixed Borders, Patio Tree, Specimen Tree, Wildlife Gardens

USDA Zones

5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Mature Height

15'-20', 20'-30'

Mature Width

15'-20', 20'-30'

Exposure

Full Sun, Shade

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