Cornus florida Cherokee Brave (Flowering Dogwood)

Cornus florida Cherokee Brave (Flowering Dogwood) is a large shrub or small deciduous tree adorned with a rounded canopy and elegant horizontal or tiered branches. In spring, profuse star-like blooms usually appear before the leaves. They consist of four narrowly pointed, deep rose-red bracts that fade to white in the center. The blossoms give way to rounded, glistening red fruit in summer, which may persist until late in the year unless devoured by hungry birds. In summer, its canopy of layered branches, clad with ovate green leaves, provides shade and beauty. It offers spectacular bright color in the fall when its foliage turns brick red. Light gray and smooth when young, the bark becomes gray-brown and develops a distinctive pattern that looks like alligator skin as the tree matures, adding interest to the winter landscape. A magnificent landscape tree that is reported to be more drought-tolerant than most flowering dogwood cultivars. Prized for its four seasons of interest, this red flowering dogwood is usually trained as a picturesque multitrunked tree, creating a wonderful landscape feature.

• Grows up to 15-30 ft. tall (450-900 cm) and 25-35 ft. wide (750-1050 cm).
• Performs best in part shade, in fertile, evenly moist, acidic to neutral, well-drained soils. Tolerates full sun but tends to be denser. Keep roots cool with mulch in summer and provide shelter in exposed locations.
• Deer resistant.
• Great choice as a specimen near patios or lawns, in shrub borders, woodland gardens, or naturalized areas.
• No routine pruning is necessary. Remove diseased, damaged, congested, or crossing shoots.
• Dogwoods are susceptible to a range of pests and diseases.
• Propagate by semi-hardwood or hardwood cuttings or grafting.
• Cornus florida species is native from Maine to southern Ontario to Illinois to Kansas south to Florida, Texas, and Mexico.