Cherokee Princess Dogwood is a low branching, small native deciduous tree with a rounded habit.  Its leaves are a dark green that turns rust-red in fall.  Cherokee Princess Dogwood is a heavy bloomer that has large clusters of flowers with white brackets that bloom in early spring and attract butterflies.  Prefers part sun and slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soil.  

Cornus florida is a host for Spring Azure butterfly and Cecropia Silkmoth, and supports several specialized bees.  The fruits are browsed by songbirds and mammals.  

MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low Maintenance. Prone to leaf scorching or spots in full sun.  Stressed Dogwoods are susceptible to leaf spot, crown canker, root rot, powdery mildew, blight, and anthracnose.  Anthracnose can be a serious problem.  Mulching will help keep roots cool in summer.

LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Naturalized Areas, Ponds or streams, Foundational Plantings.

COMPANION PLANTS: Itea, Eastern Redbud, Clethra

IMAGES: Photo by David J. Stang, Cornus florida Cherokee Princess 5zz, CC BY-SA 4.0, (2) Photo by David J. Stang, Cornus florida Cherokee Princess 4zz, CC BY-SA 4.0, (3) Photo by David J. Stang, Cornus florida Cherokee Princess 1zz, CC BY-SA 4.0, (4) Photo by David J. Stang, Cornus florida Cherokee Princess 9zz, CC BY-SA 4.0, (5) Photo by David J. Stang, Cornus florida Cherokee Princess 12zz, CC BY-SA 4.0

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.