Flowering Cherries

April 5, 2010 at 4:50 am · Filed under 1

One of the grandest floral displays of spring are the flowering cherries.  Here you find spectacular trees, covered in clouds of blossoms.  Flowering is profuse and yet graceful.  As the Britih say .. only the cherry manages to look both virginal and voluptuous at the same time.  These are trees of superlative beauty in whites, blush and pinks.  There are earlier flowering species and later blossoming double varieties.  Growth habits of the trees are also variable.  There are weeping sorts, upright fastigiate varieities, wine glass shaped crowns, flat topped growers, and bushy small growers.  There is even a contorted rare form.  These trees have been long cultivated in Japan, and most come from that country.  In the USA there are famous plantings at the tidal basin in Washington DC, and a lesser known collection at Arlington National Cemetery, donated by yours truly.  There were cherries there previously, but I gave 1,100 to insure there would be 1,000 of many different types, commemorating the centennial anniversary of the Japanese Tea Garden.

A brief sampler: Prunus sargentii is an upright grower, bright pink flowers and nice fall colors, growing to perhaps 40-50 ft.  The variety ‘Accolade’ is a hybrid of this species. with double pik flowers in profusion early in the season.

Prunus serrulata spontanea (P. jamazakura) is the long praised wild hill cherry of Japan.  Typical are the amazing red new leaves and bracts displayed with the snow white (to pink) flowers in profusion.   This is a larger tree, not often found, but it can grow to 45 ft tall and is long lived.  200-300 year old specimens are not uncommon.

P. subhirtella (P. pendula ascendens) is the Higan or Equinox cherry and lives to the longest age, perhaps over 1,000 years in Japan.  White, blush to pink flowers in great profusion bloom early in the year, before these others and give a mass display.  This species has yielded the widest varietal selection.  Almsot all the cultivated weeping forms are of this species(P. sub. pendula, pendula rubra, pendula plena rosea).  The autum flowering cherry is also a variety of this. (P. sub. ‘Autumnalis’)

Prunus x yedoensis is the Yoshino Cherry. Made famous by numerous plantings in Japan and the tidal basin of Washington DC  It is a hybrid and flowers profusely from a young age.  There are weeping forms of this which are sometimes available.

Most of the double varieties are included under P. serrulata.  ome of these are:

Beni Hoshi with single star like pink flowers on an umbrella shaped crown.

Ama no Gawa which is fastigiate and blush to ink double flowers.

Kanzan is the ubiquitous double with upright growth to perhaps 30-40 ft.  Upright branching forms a wine glass, inverted crown.  Deep purplish double pink with bronze red new leaves.

Royal Burgundy is deeper magenta purplish pink(a better color) and has deeper colored new leaves.  The color combination is reminiscent of burgundy cherry ice cream.  Smaller tree to perhaps 20 ft, upright an narrow crown.

Shirofugen(Fugenzo) is very late, long clustered couble medium pink with bronze new leaves.  This tree can form a wide flattopped crown 25 ft tall and wide. 

Shogetsu is a small tree, often flattopped crown, late blossoming and light pink opening fully to white, blushing again to pink as flowers age.  Very showy, of high quality, profuse blooming and smaller tree to perhaps 12-15 ft tall. Individual flowers resemble the ballerina’s tutu.

Tai Haku is a larger tree with the biggest flowers of all.  They can be 2 1/2″ – 4″ and displayed with bright coppery new foliage.  The color combination is choice.  Tree can grow to 25+ tall and forms an umbrella shaped crown.  This is a rare variety, but very choice.

Ukon is one of the ‘yellow’ flowered types(sulphur yellow to lime green).  Uncommon, even rare nowadays, it is choice and a curiosity.  Only when larger does it make an outstanding impression in the landscape.  It is quite choice planted close to Royal Burgundy, the two color combinations create an outstanding display.

There are other types available, but rare and difficult to obtain.  With all cherries, well drained soil is a requirement.  Soggy soil will kill the roots and the tree will die.  If you have a poorly draining site, just plant very high on a wide mound, or in a raised bed.

Cherries like a sunny location, regular watering during growth and well drained soil.  They are easy care and very low maintenance and allow for planting under them as well.

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