How to Grow a Japanese Flowering Cherry Tree (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to grow a Japanese cherry blossom tree? ›

Generally, it takes about 7-10 years for a cherry tree to start bearing fruit. Thanks!

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.

Planting flowering cherries

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.

While it has a limited lifespan that typically doesn't exceed 15–25 years, the beauty of this tree makes it well worth planting.

Japanese Flowering Cherry Care

While some cultivars grow to be moderately large, it's possible to grow Japanese flowering cherry trees in containers or even as bonsai plants if you choose a compact cultivar.

The roots of cherry trees are quite invasive. They grow close to the surface and spread aggressively underground and clog plumbing pipes, wreak havoc with structures, and can even disrupt patio slabs.

They are both invasive to the United States. Cherry blossom trees are native to Japan, while Norway maple are European. Cherry blossoms are now a strong presence in botanical gardens and parks, and Norway maples are frequently planted on city sidewalks because they are fast-growing.

Cherry trees can grow 16 to 20 feet (5 to 6 metres) tall, but with regular pruning you can keep them to a compact, manageable size so they won't take over your garden.

Plant cherry trees in early spring or late fall (when the ground is soft and has a higher moisture content) in a sunny site with good air circulation and deep, well-drained soil.

Do cherry blossom trees have deep roots? ›

Cherry tree root systems grow closer to the surface than those of many other trees, and cherry trees tend to have a large number of surface roots and sucker shoots that grow vertically from them. Because of their shallow root systems, cherry trees have the potential to cause significant damage to surface landscaping.

Only one sour cherry tree needs to be planted for pollination and fruit set. Many sweet cherry varieties cannot produce fruit from their own pollen and are considered self-unfruitful. These plants require cross-pollination for fruit set.

1. Kwanzan Cherry. Easily the showiest of all Flowering Cherries, the Kwanzan's blooms aren't just pink but double pink, meaning you get twice as many petals and twice as many blooms.

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.

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

Flowering Cherry Trees grow at a rate of between 1 and 2 feet per year and once they are planted and properly established, Cherry Blossom Trees require little care afterwards.

Kwanzan Cherry Tree

In early spring the Kwanzan Cherry explodes with a heavy crop of bright pink double blooms! This vase shape tree is one of the hardiest and the largest cherry trees available.

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.

Container grown cherry trees need a pot that is deeper and wider than the root ball of the tree so the cherry has some room to grow. A 15 gallon (57 L.) pot is large enough for a 5 foot (1.5 m.)

Initial pruning and training is the same for all types of cherry. You can train them either as a free-standing small tree (usually known as a bush), or as a fan tied on to wires spaced 30cm or less apart.

Are Japanese cherry trees self-pollinating? ›

These trees are self-pollinating but do better with another cultivar nearby. The flowers are still pollinated by honeybees, but they can produce fruit just from the pollen on the tree.

Brown rot. Brown rot is a fungal infection that attacks flowering cherry trees, especially the cultivar 'Kwansan', later in spring just as the flowers are starting to fade.

Cherry trees benefit from full sun, but will suffice in shady locations. Planting in a sheltered location is recommended to prevent uprooting in strong winds. Avoid waterlogged soils. Planting near a building should be fine, but the distance away should be based on a tree's spread.

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

Species cherry blossoms are found throughout the world being especially common in regions in the Northern Hemisphere with temperate climates, including Japan, China, and Korea, as well as Nepal, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, and several areas across northern Europe.

Pruning a Japanese cherry tree

Like most Prunus trees, the only pruning that is really critical is the removing of dead wood. Don't prune before the blooming, but wait for the blooming to end before pruning, if needed, to reduce tree size or balance the branches.

As far as consumption goes, there aren't any health benefits to eating Japanese cherry fruit, because it is poisonous.

Cherry Blossom trees like a sunny and sheltered position, so growing compact varieties in pots on a sheltered patio is ideal. They don't tolerate wet soil well, so in autumn and winter it is worth using pot feet to help them drain better.

3-4 Year Old (Approx. 3-3.5 Ft) Barbados Cherry Tree. Barbados cherries are a sweet-tart fruit, which goes excellently with making jams, jellies, pies, and many more delicious treats.

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.

How do you prepare a cherry tree for planting? ›

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.

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.

Consider the mature size of the cherry blossom trees you chose when spacing them out. Usually, 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 metres) is enough. Dig a hole for your cherry blossom tree that is twice the size and depth of the root ball. Add a layer of organic matter at the bottom for the cherry blossom tree's roots to sit on.

Speaking of nutrients, Cherry Trees do benefit from a little fertilizer. Use a fertilizer that's low in nitrogen late in the winter, or in the early spring. About a month before your trees flower is the best time to fertilize.

Always plant at least two cherry trees close together to improve pollination and fruiting. Even self-pollinating types benefit from having another tree close at hand.

Lots of trees are hermaphroditic — that is, their flowers contain both male and female reproductive parts. Other species have male trees and female trees, which you can tell apart by looking at their flowers: The male reproductive parts are the pollen-laden stamen; the female parts their egg-holding pistils.

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.

But if you want to know which cherries are the sweetest of the sweetest, that would be any of the black cherries. Bing cherries are the leader of this pack, along with their siblings Lambert, Chelan, Sweetheart, and Tulare. You can recognize them by their dark color and heart shape.

Best fast-growing for flowering tree for spring

The Kwanzan cherry, officially known as Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan', erupts in a profusion of frothy pink blooms in spring.

Shidarezakura (Weeping Cherry)

Weeping cherry trees have drooping branches and are among the most common and beloved cherry trees in Japan. There are two types: trees with blossoms of five petals and trees with blossoms of more than five petals.

How tall does a Japanese cherry tree grow? ›

The Japanese flowering cherry is a small deciduous tree that can reach 15-25 ft. in height and spread (4-8 m). This tree is relatively short-lived (15 to 20 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).

The cause is a fungal disease called Brown Rot Blossom Blight. The blight attacks fruit trees such as fruiting and flowering apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches and plums. Fungus spores infect the tree blossoms in the spring, when the blooms begin to age.

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*.

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.

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.

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.

The Japanese flowering cherry is a small deciduous tree that can reach 15-25 ft. in height and spread (4-8 m). This tree is relatively short-lived (15 to 20 years). Depending on the cultivar, it may feature an upright habit, a wide spreading habit with horizontal branching, or a weeping habit.

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.

If you want to slow down the bloom time, put the branches in a cool, dark basem*nt, she said. If you want to speed things up, put them in a warm, bright place.

How far away from a house should a cherry tree be planted? ›

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

Cherry trees are very susceptible to root rot, so the soil needs to drain well. They also require about eight hours of sunlight daily, so you cannot plant them where they will grow in the shade of other trees. Any cherry tree care manual will tell you that sour cherry trees are self-pollinators.

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

Growth Rate

This tree grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24" per year.

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 trees grow well in a wide range of soil types, including loamy, clay, or sandy soils. This ability to thrive in varying soil types makes them suitable for growing in almost any garden, as they will be able to adapt to different soil types. They can also grow well in acidic, alkaline, or neutral soils.