Call us: 0800 843 752Free shipping for orders $150 or over
Gift Vouchers

cherokee chief dogwood

Cherokee Chief Dogwood (Cornus 'Cherokee Chief') is a beloved flowering tree prized in New Zealand gardens for its rich red spring blooms and graceful habit. This stunning deciduous tree makes a striking statement as a feature plant, standing out with its deep rose-red bracts that emerge in early to mid-spring, bringing colour to the garden before many other trees break bud. Appreciated by both landscapers and passionate home gardeners, Cherokee Chief Dogwood adds year-round interest thanks to its lush green foliage, which takes on purple hues in autumn before falling to reveal sculptural winter branching.

Cornus Cherokee Chief

Cornus 'Cherokee Chief' is a small, deciduous tree grown for its impressive flowering and attractive form. Masses of rose-red flowers are borne in spring just as the new foliage begins to emerge. The leaves emerge green with bronze tones in spring, age to become dark green, then develop colourful shades of red in autumn before falling as it grows to 12 m tall and 7 m wide. Cornus 'Cherokee Chief' makes a lovely specimen and is an excellent choice for adding to a mixed planting, using as a backdrop for smaller plants, or using in an avenue planting.

Cornus 'Cherokee Chief' specimen tree with masses of pink flowers in late winter.
  • Suited to regions:
    All regions
  • Plant type:
    Trees
  • Height:
    12.00 m
  • Spread:
    7.00 m
  • Flowering time:
    Spring
  • Tolerances:
    Hardy
  • Garden uses:
    Parks, Specimen
  • Garden styles:
    Alpine, Japanese
Cornus controversa variegata (Wedding Cake Tree) specimen in a large garden.
Most Popular Cornus controversa variegata

Cornus controversa variegata, commonly referred to as the Wedding Cake Tree, features tiered branches that bear leaves that are variegated cream and...

From$340.69
Cornus 'Eddies White Wonder' white flowers held on trailing stems.
Most Popular Cornus 'Eddie's White Wonder'

Cornus 'Eddie's White Wonder' is a deciduous dogwood tree renowned for its impressive spring blossoms and vibrant autumn foliage. This hybrid...

From$340.69
Cornus stolonifera 'Flaviramea' plants with yellow stems.
Most Popular Cornus stolonifera 'Flaviramea'

Cornus stolonifera Flaviramea, commonly known as the Yellow Stem Dogwood, is a shrub that features bright yellow stems which become more pronounced...

From$270.40
Cornus 'Stokes Pink' elegant pink flowers.
Most Popular Cornus 'Stokes Pink'

Cornus 'Stokes Pink' is a deciduous shrub grown for its colourful flowering in spring. At this time, masses of showy, two-tone pink flowers are borne...

From$270.40
A small Cornus kousa 'China Girl' specimen tree with masses of white flowers against green foliage.
Most Popular Cornus kousa 'China Girl'

Cornus kousa 'China Girl' is a small and popular, deciduous tree with large and showy, white flowers that adorn the tree in spring and are followed...

From$340.69
Albizia julibrissin 'Rosea' pink flowers and lush, green foliage.
Most Popular Albizia julibrissin 'Rosea'

Albizia julibrissin 'Rosea' (Silk Tree) is a stunning deciduous tree valued for its graceful spreading canopy, fern like foliage, and masses of...

From$344.95
A large Metrosideros 'Maori Princess' trees in an avenue with masses of red flowers.
Most Popular Metrosideros 'Maori Princess'

Metrosideros 'Maori Princess' is a stunning cultivar of the NZ Christmas tree (Pohutukawa) and is renowned for its brilliant crimson-red flowers and...

From$30.29
fraxinus-ornus-2
Most Popular Fraxinus ornus

Fraxinus ornus (Flowering Ash) is an elegant deciduous tree admired for its fragrant creamy white flower clusters that appear in late spring and...

From$387.55
A Quercus coccinea (Scarlet Oak) specimen tree with bright red-orange foliage.
Most Popular Quercus coccinea

Quercus coccinea, commonly known as the Scarlet Oak tree, features very colourful autumn foliage. The foliage emerges light green in spring, ages to...

From$270.40
A Pyrus 'Autumn Leaves' tree.
Most Popular Pyrus 'Autumn Leaves'

Pyrus 'Autumn Leaves' is an ornamental pear admired for its vibrant autumn colour display. This deciduous tree produces lush green foliage through...

From$515.35
Cornus Cherokee Chief

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring Cornus or Deciduous Trees. Alternatively, forage through similar ideas like cornus florida cherokee chief, and cornus cherokee chief nz.

Search Cornus Cherokee Chief

Key Features of Cherokee Chief Dogwood

The Cherokee Chief Dogwood is renowned for its showy floral display. Its rosy-red bracts—often mistaken for petals—surround tiny central flowers, creating a dramatic spectacle against emerging leaves. As the seasons progress, these are replaced by shiny red berries that attract native birdlife and pollinators, enhancing your garden’s biodiversity.

With a mature height of 4–6 metres and a broad, rounded canopy, Cherokee Chief Dogwood fits beautifully in a range of New Zealand landscapes. It works well as a specimen tree on lawns, as a mid-canopy accent in woodland plantings, or paired with other dogwoods for an extended flowering season. For similar impact with a different colour palette, explore Cornus 'Cherokee Princess', renowned for its pure white bracts.

Planting and Care Tips

Cherokee Chief Dogwood thrives in a sheltered position with dappled sunlight or morning sun and afternoon shade. It prefers well-drained, rich soils with consistent moisture, especially during dry summers. Mulching around the base helps retain moisture and insulate roots, while a yearly application of compost or well-rotted manure encourages vigorous growth.

Care is low-key: prune only to remove dead or crossing branches in late winter when the tree is dormant. Dogwoods, including Cherokee Chief, are largely pest resistant in New Zealand conditions, but keeping an open canopy helps prevent mildew issues.

If you appreciate variegated foliage, consider Cornus controversa variegata, which brings architectural elegance to the shaded garden.

Complementary Plant Choices

For gardeners building a layered landscape or exploring further dogwood varieties, Cornus 'Eddie's White Wonder' provides classic white blooms with layered, horizontal branching. Shrub dogwoods like Cornus stolonifera 'Flaviramea', with their brilliant yellow winter stems, or Cornus 'Stokes Pink' extend seasonal interest while echoing or contrasting the Cherokee Chief’s spring display.

Pair your Cherokee Chief Dogwood with accent trees such as Fraxinus Raywoodii for autumn colour, or add textural contrast with evergreens like Cordyline banksii (Forest Cabbage Tree) and the handsome Stenocarpus sinuatus (Firewheel Tree). For those seeking something bold and architectural, Sequoiadendron giganteum (Sequoia gigantea Tree) makes a dramatic companion.

Why Choose Cherokee Chief Dogwood for Your Garden?

A true showpiece, Cherokee Chief Dogwood delivers remarkable colour, attracts birds and pollinators, and offers attractive form year-round. Its manageable size suits urban and rural settings alike, making it the ideal specimen tree. Whether you’re enhancing your woodland edge or looking for a vibrant spring accent, Cherokee Chief Dogwood brings enduring beauty to any New Zealand garden.


Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

–The Plant Company

Explore Garden Inspiration

Sign up to receive a free $10 Voucher You won’t be bombarded with emails, just titbits of quality information from time to time Sign up
Free shipping on orders over $150!

Join our community of happy customers.

4.8

445 Google reviews