Remove diseased, damaged, congested, or crossing shoots. Great choice as a specimen near patios or lawns, in shrub borders, woodland gardens, or naturalized areas.Keep an eye out for cornus anthracnose and horse chestnut scale. Keep roots cool with mulch in summer and provide shelter in exposed locations. Tolerates full sun but tends to be denser. Performs best in part shade, in fertile, evenly moist, acidic to neutral, well-drained soils.Prized for its 4 seasons of interest, this red flowering dogwood is usually trained as a picturesque multitrunked tree, creating a wonderful landscape feature. A magnificent landscape tree that is reported to be more drought tolerant than most flowering dogwood cultivars. 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. In the fall, it offers spectacular bright color when its foliage turns brick red. In summer, its canopy of layered branches, clad with ovate green leaves, provides shade and beauty. The blossoms give way to rounded, glistening red fruit in summer, which may persist until late in the year unless devoured by hungry birds. They consist of four narrowly pointed deep rose-red bracts that fade to white in the center. In spring, profuse star-like blooms usually appear before the leaves.

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.

Cherokee brave dogwood care