Flowering Dogwood

About this plant

The Cherokee Brave Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida 'Cherokee Brave') is celebrated for its spectacular floral display, featuring large, rich rosy-red to deep pink bracts that bloom profusely in early spring before the leaves emerge. These captivating flowers are often highlighted by a white center, creating a truly eye-catching spectacle in any landscape. Beyond its breathtaking blooms, this cultivar offers attractive, dark green foliage that transforms into a beautiful reddish-purple in the fall, providing multi-season interest. Ideal as a specimen tree or as an understory planting, the Cherokee Brave brings a touch of classic American charm to gardens of all sizes. Its graceful, spreading branches and relatively compact size make it a versatile choice for residential landscapes, urban gardens, and even small courtyards. Thriving in well-drained soil and partial shade, this dogwood is a relatively low-maintenance tree once established, offering years of beauty and a welcoming presence to your outdoor spaces. Its fruit is also a valuable food source for local wildlife.

Installation timing

When we're in season, outside of the winter months, our goal is to get your plants installed within about two weeks. That window gives us enough time to secure your plants from our supplier and find a spot on the schedule. Throughout the process we stay in touch through notifications and your existing client portal on the main A Cut Above website, which is separate from this landscaping plants shop.

Care & maintenance

Requires well-drained, acidic soil. Mulch annually to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. Prune only to remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches after flowering. Protect young trees from deer and mechanical damage. Fertilize in spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants.

Watering suggestions

Proper watering is the single most important factor in your plant's survival after installation. Newly installed plants have a limited root system and rely on you for consistent moisture while they establish.

• First 2 weeks: Water deeply every day (or every other day in cooler, wet weather), soaking the root ball and surrounding soil.
• Weeks 3–12: Water deeply 2–3 times per week, adjusting for rain, heat, and soil drainage.
• After establishment: Water deeply about once a week during the growing season, and more often in extreme heat or drought.
• How to check: Stick a finger 2–3 inches into the soil near the roots — if it's dry, it's time to water. Deep, less-frequent watering encourages strong roots; shallow daily sprinkles do not.
• Avoid: Overwatering (soggy, waterlogged soil) is just as harmful as underwatering and can drown roots.

Watering needs vary by plant, season, soil, and exposure. Because proper watering is the customer's responsibility after installation, please make sure you understand and can follow these suggestions before ordering.

Good to know: plants and trees purchased from and installed by A Cut Above include a one-year limited warranty from the date of installation. Because plant survival depends heavily on proper watering and care after installation, losses caused by improper care, neglect, animal or chemical damage, or extreme weather are not covered, and we must be given the chance to inspect a struggling plant before it's removed or replaced. Coverage is one replacement per plant. Read our warranty info.