The ‘Cherokee Princess’ is a flowering dogwood tree with clusters of white, scented cascades of blooms that show up in spring.
| Botanical Name | Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Princess’ |
| Common Name | Cherokee Princess Dogwood |
| Plant Type | Perennial or Annual |
| Flower Color | A shower of white, four-petaled flowers |
| Size When Mature | 240 to 300 inches |
| Bloom Time | Spring |
| Sun Requirements | Full Sun to Partial Shade |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 5 to 9 |
| Soil PH Range | 5.5 to 6.0 |
| Soil Type | Well-draining, acidic and rich in organic matter |
| Water Needs | Medium |
| Native Area | US |
What you Need to Know About Cherokee Princess Dogwood
The Cherokee Princess Dogwood is a small and stately tree, with generous foliage and a propensity to cover its forest green leaves with white flowers and subsequent white bracts when spring season rolls around.
The dogwood’s leaves are another fascinating trait- it turns from green to light burgundy in spring, then to a dark red come fall. After the flowers bloom, small red berries take their place and are eaten by the surrounding wildlife.
How to Care for the Cherokee Princess Dogwood
Here’s everything you need to know about growing and caring for a thriving Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Princess’
Light
Dogwood species are versatile landscape pieces mainly because they’re not too particular about the amount or quality of light they get, with ‘Cherokee Princess’ being the same.
Needless to say, you’ll have several options on where to plant the dogwood tree in your garden or yard. However, you should keep in mind that the more sunlight dogwoods get, the more blooms they put out.
Water and Soil Needs
The Cherokee Princess Dogwood thrives in acidic, well-drained soil that has plenty of organic matter. You can amend the soil in your yard with a garden mix, as well as organic matter such as compost to make it rich and loose. Alternatively, dogwoods can thrive in just about any planting medium, including heavy clay and sand.
Newly-planted dogwoods and young specimens will need to be watered more frequently so they can get established and grow during the first year. It’s recommended that you leave a hose on at a slow trickle around the base of the plant for 30 minutes to an hour twice or thrice weekly, depending on the weather and season. Deep watering encourages dogwood roots to travel down, which leads to greater resistance to drought.
To manually check if your plant needs water, dig a hole about 4 inches deep and see if it’s dry to the touch. After the first two years have passed then you can leave your Cherokee Princess dogwood on its own.
Temperature Requirements
Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Princess’ can live in zones 5 through 9. The lowest temperature the tree can tolerate is minus 10 degrees F, but it’s less heat tolerant and can only survive in zone 9 climates.
Fertilizer
The best fertilizer to use on a Cherokee Princess Dogwood is a balanced formula of either 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 in terms of NPK ratio. Alternatively, you can use a fertilizer that contains acidic compounds to help your dogwood grow and flower.
Application should be done at the start of the growing season (usually in spring) and as directed by the manufacturer. It’s recommended that you choose a slow-release product if you don’t have time, or a liquid fertilizer if your dogwood tree is experiencing stunted growth.
Common Diseases
Flowering dogwoods are quite hardy versus pests and diseases, but if they’re constantly stressed out or weakened they are more susceptible. Some of the things you’d need to watch out for are anthracnose, scale, canker, leaf spots, and powdery mildew.
The Cherokee Princess will not benefit from overhead watering, and you should keep the irrigation to the soil level and not on the leaves. Once you see signs of leaf spot or scale, take immediate and specific action to remove the pest or disease.
It’s recommended that you prune to remove dead leaves and branches and clear out debris to encourage bushier growth and better health.
Cherokee Princess Dogwood Propagation
Dogwoods are easy to clone and propagate, with you needing only a pair of garden shears and cuttings to get it done.
The best time to propagate dogwood ‘Cherokee Princess’ is during the spring season. Select a healthy stem that’s anywhere between 3 to 5 inches, then snip it off using sharp and sterilized garden shears. Make a small notch at the bottom and remove the lower leaves to make way for the roots. Cut the rest of the foliage in half to allow the cutting to focus on producing roots.
Dip the cuttings in rooting hormone, and then in a garden mix containing a generous amount of perlite and sand. Place it in a brightly lit spot and mist the cuttings every other day until roots form at the bottom.