Habitat

• native to the eastern and central United States
• zone 5 with selection of proper genetic material
• grows naturally as an understory tree

Habit and Form

• a small deciduous tree
• grows to about 30' tall with an equal or greater spread
• shape is rounded to somewhat flat-topped
• branching is approaching horizontal
• branches low to the ground with a short trunk

Summer Foliage

• opposite, simple leaves
• oval to ovate shape
• leaves 3" to 6" long
• leaves 1.5' to 3" wide
• leaf color is medium green

Autumn Foliage

• red or reddish purple
• generally quite showy
• colors early and color holds for an extended period

Flowers

• flowers are small and yellowish green
• the showy part of the bloom the four white bracts
• each bract is nearly 2" long
• the diameter of the bracts combined is about 4" across
• bloom time is mid-May
• bloom is effective for 2 weeks
• flowering occurs before leaf out

Fruit

• bright, shiny red fruits
• held in tight clusters of 3 to 4
• each fruit is 0.33" to 0.5" long and elongated
• some trees retain fruit into the winter
• birds often eat the fruit

Bark

• quite attractive
• develops small square or rectangular blocks
• resembles alligator skin
• color is dark gray, brown or black

Culture

• prefers a cool, moist, acidic soil that contains organic matter
• full sun promotes greatest flowering but tolerates partial shade well
• not tolerant of stresses such as heat, drought, pollution, road salt
• best transplanted at a small size
• can be slow to reestablish following transplanting

Landscape Uses

• small groupings
• lawn tree
• specimen
• border
• naturalistic areas
• edge of woods
• patio tree
• has four season appeal in flowers, fruits, fall, color, bark and branching character

Liabilities

• flower buds can be killed or injured by cold in zone 5
• dogwood borer
• dogwood anthracnose
• powdery mildew
• crown rot and canker
• almost overused

ID Features

• flower buds large and flattened
• twigs reddish purple
• alligator-like bark on large branches
• horizontal branching
• white flowers comprised of 4 bracts in May

Propagation

• by seed
• by bud grafting
• by cuttings

Cultivars/Varieties

Dwarf forms (such as 'Compacta') and fastigiate plants (such as 'Fastigiata') are known, but they are rarely available and perhaps best reserved for collectors.

'Cherokee Brave' - Considered one of the best red forms, with deep pink bracts that have a white center. Will grow 15' tall.

'Cherokee Chief' - A popular selection with bracts that are deep red and reddish new growth. The most popular red-pink dogwood.

'Cherokee Daybreak' ('Cherokee Daybreak™) - A variegated selection with white-margined leaves that age to pink in fall. Flower bracts are white.

'Cherokee Princess' - This form blooms at an early age, with very large white flowers -- up to 5" across. It blooms heavily and reliably every year. It's always ranked near the top of dogwood evaluations.

'Cherokee Sunset' (Cherokee Sunset™) - A red-flowered form with variegated foliage that is marked with pink/yellow. A good performer, with strong growth to 25' tall and disease resistance.

'Cloud 9' - A slow-growing cultivar with white overlapping bracts. Very heavy bloomer that starts producing as a young plant. Shows good cold hardiness.

'Pendula' - This rare form features branches that are strongly weeping. Flower bracts are white.

'Plena' - Somewhat of a catch-all name for double, white-bracted forms.

var rubra ('Rubra') - This variety has flowers that range from pink to reddish with considerable variation in color. Very common in the trade.

'Welchii' - The leaves are variegated with a mixture of green, cream and pink. Flowers are white and the fall color is rose red. It benefits from a location in partial shade.

'Xanthocarpa' - A form with unusual yellow fruits and white-bracted flowers.