Cherokee Chief Pink Dogwood Tree

Deep rose-red blooms, brilliant fall color, and winter berries for the birds — the Cherokee Chief is a four-season dogwood that earns its place in any yard.

Cherokee Chief is a flowering dogwood (Cornus florida 'Cherokee Chief') selected for its exceptionally rich, deep rose-red bracts — the deepest, most saturated color of any pink dogwood. In spring, before the leaves emerge, the tree covers itself in large, overlapping blooms that announce the season with authority. Summer brings clean, dark green foliage. Fall delivers brilliant red-orange color and clusters of bright red berries that birds flock to. Winter reveals the elegant, layered branching structure that makes dogwoods so beautiful even bare.

What I love about it

Cherokee Chief is the dogwood for people who want maximum color impact. The bloom is a true deep rose-red — far more saturated than pale pink varieties — and it holds its intensity even in full sun. As a native flowering dogwood, it supports local wildlife: spring blooms feed early pollinators, and fall berries are a critical food source for migrating birds. It's compact enough for smaller yards, tolerates partial shade beautifully, and is more disease-resistant than older dogwood varieties. Plant it where you'll see it from a window in spring and you'll look forward to April all year long.

Plant Care Tips

• ☀️ Light: Full sun to part shade — morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal
• 💧 Water: Keep consistently moist; dogwoods are shallow-rooted and drought-sensitive
• 🌡️ Temperature: Hardy to -20°F (Zone 5)
• 🪴 Difficulty: Easy to moderate — avoid compacted or waterlogged soils
• 🐾 Pet Safety: Non-toxic to cats and dogs
• 🌿 Mulching: Mulch around the base to retain moisture and protect shallow roots

Plant Specs

• Mature Size: 15–25 ft tall, 15–20 ft wide
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Bloom Time: Early spring (March–April)
• Flower Color: Deep rose-red
• Fall Interest: Red-orange foliage + bright red berries
• Growing Zone: 5–9

Bloom bold. Be cheeky.