Height: 20 feet Spread: 20 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 5a Description: A beautiful small specimen tree, famous for its large yet delicate white blooms in spring and excellent wide-spreading form; It grows best with the heat & wind protection, requires well-drained acidic soil and adequate precipitation. Ornamental Features Dogwood Tree, Cherokee White features showy clusters of white flowers with white bracts held atop the branches from early to mid spring before the leaves. It has forest green deciduous foliage which emerges burgundy in spring. The pointy leaves turn an outstanding brick red in the fall. It produces red berries from early to late fall. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up. The warty gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape. Landscape Attributes Dogwood Tree, Cherokee White is a deciduous tree with a stunning habit of growth which features almost oriental horizontally-tiered branches. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics. Dogwood Tree, Cherokee White is recommended for the following landscape applications; Planting & Growing Dogwood Tree, Cherokee White will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a high canopy with a typical clearance of 5 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 80 years or more. This tree should be grown in a location with partial shade and which is shaded from the hot afternoon sun. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This plant should be periodically fertilized throughout the active growing season with a specially-formulated acidic fertilizer. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in both summer and winter to conserve soil moisture and protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is native to parts of North America. Special Attributes The fruit is approximately 1/2 to 3/4 inch berries, generally eaten by birds. All Cornus are classified as nontoxic plants. Grows best in an established neighborhood that provides heat and wind protection.