Cherry blossom is a true sign of spring. The pretty pink and white flowers burst into bloom for a few glorious weeks before falling from their boughs like confetti.
Advertisem*nt
Ornamental cherry trees are grown for their flowers rather than their fruit. Most are cultivars of the Japanese cherry tree, Prunus cerasus (sakura tree) which has been celebrated in Japan for centuries.
The Japanese take cherry blossom very seriously – cherry blossom is the country's national flower and families and friends gather each spring for ‘hanami’, to view the cherry trees. This is now catching on in the UK, too, with people recording their first sighting of cherry blossom on social media.
Many varieties of cherry are perfect trees for small gardens, and they come in a range of shapes – upright, spreading, rounded or weeping. And, of course, there are varieties of cherry that produce deliciously tasty fruit. Many have spectacular autumn foliage, too.
Cherry blossom also provides an important early source of pollen and nectar for bees and other pollinators.
When to plant cherry blossom trees
Container-grown cherry blossom trees (which you're likely to find at garden centres) can be planted at any time of year, although spring and autumn are the best times as the soil is warm and moist and not too dry or cold. Bare root trees (which are often cheaper) need to be bought and planted during the dormant season, from November to March. These are available from specialist tree nurseries and online.
Before planting, read our advice on how to plant trees.
Where to plant your cherry blossom tree
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.
Bear in mind that cherry blossom trees have different shapes – some are upright and some are more rounded or spreading. They look lovely as specimen trees in a front garden or in the middle of a lawn. Smaller types such as 'Amanagowa' or 'Kojo-no-mai' can be incorporated into borders.
To really enhance the beautiful blossom, you could underplant the tree with beautiful spring bulbs, such as white daffodils or tulips.
Advice on buying cherry blossom trees
Check you have the right spot for a cherry tree – most do best in a sunny, sheltered spot
Check the ultimate size and shape
Flowering cherry trees are widely available at garden centres but youwill find more choice at specialist tree nurseries. They may offer trees in larger sizes, often as bare root trees, which are only available to buy and plant during the dormant season (November to March)
Prunus 'Pink Shell' is a small, spreading ornamental cherry with delicate, cup-shaped pink flowers and pale green leaves that turn orange in autumn. It is excellent for early pollinators.
Prunus 'Spire' is a compact and upright ornamental cherry that produces an impressive show of pink flowers from late March. Its colourful foliage begins bronze, turning yellow and green in summer, turning red in autumn. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
An ancient cultivar, Prunus 'Tai-haku', great white cherry or hill cherry, bears white blossoms much larger than most ornamental cherries, up to 6cm wide. The gorgeous bronze foliage turns green in summer. A large, wide tree that needs plenty of room, it holds the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit.
An excellent cherry for both flowers and fruits, Prunus avium 'Regina' produces clouds of pure-white blossom in spring, followed by large dessert cherries with superb flavour in summer. Great for a small garden.
Reaching up to 2m, Prunus incisa 'Kojo-no-mai' compact ornamental cherry. More like a large shrub, it is ideal for a small garden and can also be grown in a pot. Showy white flowers blushed with pink burst from attractive twisted branches. It has excellent red and orange autumn colour. It has the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Prunus 'Shirotae' produces masses of fragrant, semi-double white flowers on dark branches, followed by pretty autumn colour. Its flat crown and spreading habit creates a stunning look. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Prunus ‘Amanogawa’ is a beautiful ornamental cherry with an upright or columnar habit, hence its common name, the flagpole cherry. In late spring it’s smothered in semi-double, pale pink blossom, popular with pollinators. The foliage is green-bronze in spring and fresh green in summer. In autumn, the leaves turn orange and red before falling. Prunus ‘Amanogawa’ is one of the best trees for small gardens. It holds the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit.
The Morello cherry, Prunus cerasus ‘Morello’, also known as sour cherry, has beautiful white blossom in spring, followed by fruits that are mainly used in cooking. It is self-fertile (does not need another cherry nearby for pollination) and bears large crops. Morello cherries on smaller rootstocks can be grown as dwarf fruit trees in pots or in the ground or fan-trained against a wall to save space. It can be grown in a north-facing site. It holds the RHS AGM.
The black cherry plum, Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra' is a beautiful, rounded tree and one of the first cherries to bloom in spring. It has dark purple leaves and masses of pink blossom that fades to white, opening from deep pink buds in spring. The purple-black branches are eye-catching, and the foliage turns spectacular shades of orange in autumn. It is tolerant of pollution, so popular for urban gardens. The foliage turns spectacular fiery shades in autumn. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Prunus x yedoensis, the Yoshino cherry, is a graceful tree that bears a profusion of white-pink flowers in spring. It is a spreading tree with arching branches. Plant as a specimen tree in a lawn, so that its shape can be appreciated.
Prunus 'Pandora' is a compact cherry with a 'vase-like' shape, making it a good tree for the smaller garden. It has pale pink blossom in spring and orange foliage in autumn, and has been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Prunus pendula ‘Pendula Rubra’ has a beautiful weeping habit. It bears masses of deep pink flowers, mainly during late winter and early spring. In autumn leaves develop fiery tints of orange and red before falling. Prunus pendula ‘Pendula Rubra’ has been awarded the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Award of Garden Merit.
Keep the soil moist after planting, for at least the first year. In spring, mulch with organic matter, such as well rotted manure – this should help retain moisture.
Cherry blossom trees need no routine pruning but if you want to tweak the shape or move crossing or dead branches, do this in spring or summer when the tree is less likely to suffer from silver leaf disease or canker.
More like this
Read more about growing cherries.
Advertisem*nt
Common cherry blossom tree problems
Diseases to look out for include, canker, blossom wilt, brown rot and silver leaf disease. Silver leaf can be managed by pruning in spring or summer.
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.
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.
Several characteristics, such as the number of petals, color of the blossoms, and cherry blossom leaves, differentiate the trees. Cherry Blossom Trees are typically deciduous and grow in different shapes and sizes. Some bloom early in the spring, while others are late bloomers.
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.
Known as Somei-yoshino in Japan, Yoshinos are a hybrid first introduced in Tokyo in 1872. Now, Yoshinos are one of the most popular cultivated flowering cherry trees.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sweet cherries like a sunny location, such as against a south- or south-west facing wall, while acid cherries tolerate some shade, so are ideal for a north-facing wall.
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 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.
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.
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.
Cherry trees do best in deep, well-draining soil that has a pH of 6.0-7.0. Space sweet cherries 35 to 40 feet apart; dwarfs, 5 to 10 feet apart. Space tart cherries 20 to 25 feet apart; dwarfs, 8 to 10 feet apart.
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!
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.
They're fairly easy to grow and require little maintenance once they start bearing fruit. 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.
Growing either type of cherry trees requires some difference in care. However, in general, they just need to have good air circulation, an adequate amount of sunlight, and well-drained and fertile soil. However, cherry trees are vulnerable to root rot. Thus, the soil needs to be well-drained.
The only pruning necessary at that time would be to remove any broken or damaged branches and/or roots. Plan to prune your cherry trees every year during their dormant season.
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.
Once budding cherry blossoms are exposed to temperatures below 27 degrees for a half-hour, 10 percent can be damaged. Sustained colder weather over multiple days can leave 90 percent of those blossoms so damaged that they will not bloom.
Autumnalis is the only Cherry Blossom Tree known to consistently bloom twice in a year. This wonderful cultivar is extremely popular worldwide due to its unique fall/winter appeal and is known by different names in different locations, including Winter-Flowering Cherry, Higan Cherry, Pendula and the Rosebud Cherry.
Cherry blossom trees are commonly found in Japan but the beautiful trees are now trending in American backyards. The stems, leaves, and blossoms are all poisonous to your dog. So while they are beautiful to look at, rake them up if you have an outside dog.
Cherry leaf stems have a small pair of visible glands called stipules or extrafloral nectaries. While the nectar in flowers attracts pollinating insects such as bees, the nectar in the stipules attracts other insects, particularly ants, points out Ecology.
Fruit-bearing cherry trees can be quite messy if you don't pick the ripe fruits right away when they grow. This is because overripe fruits tend to fall into the ground, making the garden messy.
Cherry blossoms symbolize both birth and death, beauty and violence. They are a central motif in the Japanese worship of nature, but they have also historically signified the short but colorful life of the samurai. Sakura emblems also adorned the planes of kamikaze pilots during World War II.
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.
Montmorency cherries are bright red with flesh that is firm and yellow. They produce a clear juice. They are regarded as the best tasting cherries for baking or making preserves.
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.
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.
The North Star cherry is a variety that was bred to be highly disease resistant and cold hardy, making it a wonderfully dependable plant. Despite its small size, it is known for producing a large crop of fruit every year.
Although many assume that DC is America's home of the cherry blossom, it turns out that Macon, Georgia, actually has an astonishing 300,000 blooming Yoshino cherry trees, most of which you can find at Central City Park.
The ultimate celebration of cherries is the National Cherry Festival. It's held every year in July in the "Cherry Capital of the World"-Traverse City, Michigan.
Here's a little-known fact: New Jersey has more cherry trees than Washington, D.C. Every spring, residents and visitors alike can see the largest cherry blossom collection in the United States.
Introduction: My name is Allyn Kozey, I am a outstanding, colorful, adventurous, encouraging, zealous, tender, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
