Cornus florida 'Cherokee Brave' (Flowering Dogwood) Unity Grown

Cornus florida 'Cherokee Brave' is an ornamental cultivar of flowering dogwood, a native, flowering tree species considered to be among the most spectacular flowering trees in the US at springtime. The 'Cherokee Brave' cultivar can be multi- or single-stemmed but typically grows to 15-30' tall with wide, horizontal branching out to a spread of about 25-35'. In spring, while other flowering dogwood cultivars display spectacular white-flowering blooms, Cornus florida 'Cherokee Brave' puts on a truly show-stopping floral performance with its profusion of long-lasting red, pink, and white bracts; beyond their aesthetic value, dogwood flowers are highly attractive to butterflies and other pollinators.

Once flowers are established, they are followed by dense, attractive green foliage, and pollinated blooms turn to bright red fruits in summer which attract a number of bird species. In the fall months, persistent berries add further aesthetic appeal when autumn foliage turns to beautiful, bright shades of crimson and maroon. Cornus florida 'Cherokee Brave' grows best in full sun to part shade, but definitely benefits from protection against harsh full sun; for this, flowering dogwood can be planted as an understory or forest margin tree in well drained soils, or as a specimen tree in less intensely sunny areas like yards with more northern exposure. Additionally, since flowering dogwood can be sensitive to temperature swings, you can provide a 2-4" layer of mulch to help keep the roots cool and moist through hot summers.