Topics: Dogwood | Southern Trees Fact Sheets | Cornaceae (taxonomic family) Cornus florida 'Cherokee Chief': 'Cherokee Chief' Flowering Dogwood

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Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson2
Introduction

The state tree of Virginia, Flowering Dogwood grows 20 to 25 feet tall and spreads 12 to 15 feet. This is one of the most popular red-flowered cultivars. It is usually trained as a picturesque multi-trunked tree. The flowers consist of four bracts which subtend the small head of yellow flowers. The bracts are deep red and very striking. The fall color is usually bronze and the bright red fruits are often eaten by birds. Fall color is more vivid in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8a. Branches on the lower half of the crown grow horizontally, those in the upper half are more upright. In time, this can lend a strikingly horizontal impact to the landscape, particularly if some branches are thinned to open up the crown. Lower branches left on the trunk will droop to the ground, creating a wonderful landscape feature.

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