Low-branching with fairly horizontal branches and upturned tips. Vase-shaped in youth. Larval host for at least 118 caterpillar species; also food source for at least 40 bird species.
Missouri BG, UConn, and NCSU claim deer tolerance (even though NCSU says explicitly that deer eat the leaves and twigs; maybe they just mean that it recovers readily?) while JerseyYards.org, Dove/Woolridge, and Rutgers claim deer sensitivity.
Prefers a hot-summer continental climate and struggles in mild climates, as per Glyn Church in the Woody Plant series.
Denser and less susceptible to anthracnose, etc. in full sun, but less susceptible to drought, borers, beetles, and cankers in high shade, and better drainage improves resistance to Asian ambrosia beetle. Suggest underplanting with noncompetitive ferns and groundcovers.
Do not fertilize heavily.
The 'Appalachian' series (from the University of Tennessee) are all resistant to powdery mildew, but 'Appalachian Spring' is the only cultivar proven to resist dogwood anthracnose (and therefore the only one recommended by Dove/Woolridge). 'Cherokee Princess' has good resistance to spot anthracnose (a cosmetic disease that is NOT the same as dogwood anthracnose) and canker. 'Cloud 9' is one of the most cold hardy. 'Pluribracteata' is vigorous, upright (unlike most varieties), double-flowered, and highly resistant to spot anthracnose. 'Comco No. 1' (Cherokee Brave) is vigorous and mildew resistant with pink flowers. 'Prairie Pink' may have the best tolerance of cold, heat, and wind out of the pink-flowered varieties. 'JN13' (Ragin' Red) has deeper flowers approaching red, foliage that emerges maroon, and mildew resistance. 'First Lady' is a variegated selection resistant to spot anthracnose and canker.
Sources: White Oak, Sunset, NCSU, Dove/Woolridge, UFL, JerseyYards.org, Missouri BG, UConn, Odenwald/Turner, Dirr/Warren.
Buy var. rubra (pink flowers), 'Cherokee Chief' (red flowers), or 'Cherokee Princess' (white flowers) at PlantingTree.com (affiliate link; supports this website)
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