8 Cherry Blossom Tree Tips to Know Before You Plant or Buy (Full Guide) (2024)

FAQs

What is the best month to plant a cherry blossom tree? ›

Plant bare-root trees between November and March, and container-grown ones any time of year but preferably not winter. Dig a hole 60x60cm (2x2ft) and 30cm (12in) deep. Add a layer of organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure to the base of the hole and dig in.

Cherry blossom trees do best in a sunny, sheltered spot – strong winds can strip a tree of its blossom. Trees that produce sour edible fruits, such as the Morello cherry, can tolerate some shade. Cherries can tolerate a wide range of soil types, as long as it is moist and well drained.

Cherry blossoms are a symbolic flower of the spring, a time of renewal, and the fleeting nature of life.

Are cherry blossom trees fast growing? Cherry blossom trees have a moderate of medium growth rate and usually take between 10 and 20 years to reach their mature height. The eventual height of the tree however is dictated by the rootstock on which it is grown but the rate of growth remains the same.

Prepare the cherry tree before planting

To support the long-term health of the roots, it is best to scarify the root ball slightly with scissors before planting the tree. After untangling the roots with scissors, loosen the root ball a little with your hands, this will help the roots to branch out later.

Furthermore, while other flowering trees can require heavy pruning and maintenance, the Cherry Blossom Tree is relatively easy-to-grow. This medium growth flowering cherry tree grows easily in either full sun or mostly shade. Various soils and growing locations also make this a popular flowering tree.

Give your cherry tree enough water to soak the ground all around the roots. It's important to note that, even if you're in the midst of a “brown-lawn drought”, you shouldn't water too much. Once every 7- to 10-days (or even once every two weeks) is plenty. Worse than dry, thirsty roots are waterlogged, drowning roots.

Best fast-growing for flowering tree for spring

Growing between one and two feet per year, the Kwanzan cherry tree will reach the grand height of 40 foot with a similar spread, however, a little pruning can help to keep it as a smaller tree if you would prefer.

For fruit trees grafted on dwarf rootstocks that means 3m or so, and for fruit trees on vigorous rootstocks allow 6m or more.

They don't live long.

Like their blossoms, flowering cherry trees themselves are fairly ephemeral too, at least as trees go. Most cultivars live only 30 to 40 years.

Are cherry blossoms male or female? ›

Do cherry trees have male and female? No, you don't need to plant both a male and female cherry trees together. All cherry trees are either all-male or all-female so it's not necessary to have both sexes next to each other.

1. Crape Myrtle. Dating as far back into Greek mythology, the goddess of love, Aphrodite, considered the Crape Myrtle tree sacred.

The flower petals are edible. The cherry blossoms and the leaves are edible and used in many traditional Japanese sweets and tea. They are first pickled and then used in recipes for mochi cakes, candies, and even cookies. You can also brew sakura blossom tea or make co*cktails with preserved blossoms.

Flowers bloom twice a year! Once in spring and then again in autumn or winter! Simple, yet elegant blossoms are colored rose-pink, shaped like tiny bells, and flower in huge clusters. Autumnalis is one of the earliest cherries to bloom in spring!

A fan trained tree – 3 years to start, 5 years to full cropping. A festooned tree – 2 years to start, 4 years to full cropping. Trees that are grown in containers are often the most precocious and speedy to start yielding. And in general, the more vigorous the tree then the longer it will be to start cropping.

Space your trees 10-20 feet away from each other or other structures or plants. Dig a hole that's roughly two feet around by one foot deep, and dig some compost in the hole before planting.

The roots of the cherry tree stay close to the surface and tend to spread horizontally rather than vertically. That's because the cherry trees need oxygen, which is more abundant near the surface of the soil. While the trees have a taproot to anchor them, the majority of the root system spreads far and wide.

Cherry blossoms! “Honestly, they're easy, but they're high maintenance," said Carswell. "The best time to plant them is when it's cold and the ground is cold in the winter, or early, early spring when the ground is still cool. You plant them and they like partial sun.”

Cherry trees grow best in deep (at least 4 feet), well-drained loam soils. They will tolerate less desirable soil, but may do poorly on excessively sandy, heavy or wet soils.

All Cherries prefer deep, fertile and well-drained soil that is ideally slightly acidic, with a pH 6.5-6.7. They dislike shallow, sandy or poorly drained soil.

What is a good fertilizer for cherry trees? ›

Cherry trees are light feeders and prefer a low-nitrogen fertilizer such as 5-10-10 or 10-15-15.

Cherry Trees enjoy moist soil. They need an inch of water every two weeks while they're young. It may be a good idea to keep up with the rainfall with weather reports, or a rain gauge to see how much rainwater your trees are getting. During times of drought, your trees may need a little extra water.

Cherry blossom season lasts for about a month every spring and is always dependent on the weather. Early March to early April is generally a good rule of thumb when you're looking at the calendar and hoping to see blooms. Most cherry blossom trees bloom for one to two weeks during the season.

Cherry trees need a full month of chilly weather below 41 degrees to properly blossom when it gets warmer, according to Naoko Abe, author of The Sakura Obsession.

Coffee grounds contain nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, and copper, all of which are essential to fruit trees. They also raise the pH level in the soil, which is good for the health of the plant. Most fruit trees require slightly acidic soil, so adding coffee grounds will help them thrive.

Once planted, a tree needs the right amount of water to establish its roots and begin a long and healthy life. Too little water and the tree will wilt and die, but too much water can drown the roots and kill the tree just as easily. Watering is also dependent upon the season and the amount of rain.

Both sweet and sour cherry trees are easy to grow and both fruits have a wide variety of uses. Sweet cherries are used for raw eating and you'll need at least 2-3 trees for pollination. There is a dwarf sweet cherry tree that is self-pollinating that is new to most markets as well.

Both tart and sweet cherries can be propagated by semi-hardwood and hardwood cuttings. Semi-hardwood cuttings are taken from the tree in the summer when the wood is still slightly soft and partially mature. Hardwood cuttings are taken during the dormant season when the wood is hard and mature.

Protect All Fruit Trees Against Frost Cracking

This causes unsightly trunk cracking that hurt the tree's ability to take up moisture and nutrients and leaves an opening for insects. Protect the bark with tree wrap and remove the wrap in spring after the last frost.

Does rain ruin cherry blossoms? ›

Heavy rain and strong winds can knock petals off, so there is a factual basis for concern. That's especially true a few days after the peak bloom, as the flowers become even more fragile.

Should cherry trees be pruned every year? Cherry trees should be pruned every year to maintain their shape and encourage healthy growth. Pruning cherry trees will also result in a better crop of fruit, as removing branches will increase the exposure to sunlight of the remaining shoots.

A cherry tree can grow as tall as 35 feet (about 10 meters), and its branches can spread out about 12-15 feet.

Each year the color and scent of the cherry blossoms attract a variety of birds and insects. They play an accidental, though essential, role in pollination. Both plants and animals are dependent on pollinators.

Other birds that share this habit are northern cardinals, house and purple finches, northern mockingbirds, blue jays, evening grosbeaks, and American goldfinches. So, if you see birds eating your early spring buds and flowers, I hope you don't mind sacrificing a few blooms for your feathered friends.

Thrips damage cherry trees by feeding on the juice of their fruits and flowers. Infected areas first discolor and eventually die away. Female thrips lay eggs in developing fruit, which in turn develop into larvae.

Admired for its sweet scent and trailing vines of pink and orange flowers, the honeysuckle symbolizes devoted and everlasting love.

To the Iroquois people, the white pine is a symbol of the Great Peace that united their separate nations into an enduring League. The Peace Tree is related to the Tree of Light, a central symbol in Iroquois cosmology.

What do cherry blossoms smell like? Cherry blossoms have a smell, but it's very faint and subtle. The scent features light notes of lilac, rose, and magnolia with a powdery vanilla note and almond-like aromas. The aroma isn't overly sweet, fruity, or floral.

Cherry and plum trees and their relatives contain cyanide-containing compounds, which are found in the leaves, fruit, and pits of the trees. The plants are most toxic when drought or frost stresses them. Wilted leaves are also quite toxic.

Can you plant a cherry blossom tree in the winter? ›

Cherry trees may be planted even when temperatures are quite cool, especially if they arrive bare-root and dormant. If a hard frost is expected, it is advisable to delay planting for a while until temperatures become more moderate. Do not expose roots to temperatures that are freezing or below.

Tip. An ornamental cherry may start to blossom at any time between its first and third years, and will reach its full, lavish display in five to seven years.

Cherry blossom season lasts for about a month every spring and is always dependent on the weather. Early March to early April is generally a good rule of thumb when you're looking at the calendar and hoping to see blooms. Most cherry blossom trees bloom for one to two weeks during the season.

Because the blossoms are so close to peak bloom and are exposed from the protection of the buds, they are particularly vulnerable to cold temperatures right now. Cherry blossoms start to sustain damage when temperatures hit 27 degrees; at 24 degrees, up to 90% of exposed blossoms can be affected.

Although adaptable to many soil types, Cherry Blossom Trees prefer acidic soils. Water – During the first season, Cherry Blossom Trees require moderate watering care, preferably once a week for 30 minutes or to a depth of 18 inches. Once established, simply water once every two to three weeks.

Using mulch is a highly effective method of protecting fruit trees in winter — specifically their roots. Mulch, during the growing season, should not be more than a few inches thick, but in the winter, a little extra doesn't hurt*.

Average Time Cherry Trees Take To Grow

On average, cherry trees planted as saplings take between 4 and 5 years to reach maturity. By that time, you can expect to harvest a full crop every year. However, some varieties have faster growth rates than others.

While the trees have a taproot to anchor them, the majority of the root system spreads far and wide. A mature full-sized cherry tree will have a root system spanning 33 to 39 feet in diameter. As for depth, the roots wouldn't grow beyond 3 feet deep.

They don't live long.

Like their blossoms, flowering cherry trees themselves are fairly ephemeral too, at least as trees go. Most cultivars live only 30 to 40 years.

Most cherry blossom trees only live for 30 to 40 years, according to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (which is home to some of the oldest cherry blossoms in the United States). But some species can live longer: black cherry trees can live up to 250 years.

How long does a cherry tree live? ›

Across all varieties cherry trees tend to have a short lifespan, typically around 15-30 years.

Critical Freezing Temperatures

However, to destroy 90 percent of these early buds, the temperature must drop to below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Cherries are the exception and are heavily damaged at 25 degrees Fahrenheit in the early stages, advises Utah State University Cooperative Extension.

“Blossoms can be damaged starting at 27 degrees; 24 degrees is a critical temperature. You can lose 90% of the blossoms.

Give your cherry tree enough water to soak the ground all around the roots. It's important to note that, even if you're in the midst of a “brown-lawn drought”, you shouldn't water too much. Once every 7- to 10-days (or even once every two weeks) is plenty. Worse than dry, thirsty roots are waterlogged, drowning roots.