This Cornus florida cultivar blossoms from mid April until the end of May with red bracts. The plant flowers at a young age. The tops of young shoots turn red, and as the leaf comes to its full size, change to dark green. In autumn, the 'Cherokee Chief' attains a beautiful autumn dress with leaves ranging from dark to bright red. Growth habit and care are similar to the Cornus florida and the 'Cherokee Chief' is also winterproof. This cultivar was selected by Howell Nursery in Tennessee in 1958.