Cornus can be deciduous shrubs or trees, or creeping, woody-based perennials, some with brightly coloured young stems. Tiny flowers are borne in dense clusters, sometimes with showy bracts. Many have fine autumn colour
'Cherokee Chief' is a large deciduous shrub to 6m, with ovate leaves and red and purple autumn colour. Flower-heads to 10cm in width, with four notched, deep rose-red bracts in late spring