Prunus serrulata
Japanese ornamental cherry
Common names: ornamental cherry, blossom cherry
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Hardy
- Pruning
- Jul–Aug
- Flowering
- Apr
Photo: Myrabella · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
The Japanese ornamental cherry, botanically Prunus serrulata, is the star of the spring garden. Mid‑to‑late April (week 16‑17) it blooms in dense, pink flowers, often before the leaves fully emerge. As a small ornamental tree or large shrub it reaches 3 to 6 m in height depending on the variety and can fit into smaller gardens. Varieties such as Kanzan display especially lush, full blooms, while Amanogawa grows slender and columnar. After flowering it bears decorative, colored foliage in autumn, giving the garden a second highlight. Fruit is rarely produced in the fully‑blossoming varieties, as they are bred primarily for ornamental purposes. Like all Prunus species, leaves, bark and the seeds of any fruit contain toxic cyanogenic glycosides; raw plant parts should not be ingested, especially in gardens with children.
Care instructions
The ornamental cherry prefers a sunny to partially shaded location with a well‑drained, humus‑rich soil; it does not tolerate waterlogging. Water young trees regularly during the first two years, especially in dry periods from May to September. Pruning is rarely necessary; if done, prune immediately after flowering in May so wounds heal well and flower buds for the next year are not lost. A mulch layer around the root zone retains soil moisture and suppresses competing vegetation. If bark shows excessive gumming, check the site: overly wet or compacted soils often cause the problem.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
FloweringApr
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, loamy, nutrient-rich, moist
The Japanese flowering cherry likes a deep, loose soil that holds moisture but does not allow waterlogging. Loamy-sandy mixes with a good supply of nutrients suit it best. It tolerates calcareous to slightly acidic soils well, but avoids extremely acidic or very heavy soils. A layer of mulch over the root zone keeps the soil evenly moist.
Feeding
Medium feeder
Months
Mar–Apr
In early spring, the flowering cherry welcomes a dose of ripe compost, worked shallowly into the soil. A mulch blanket of leaves or bark humus provides extra nutrients over the season and protects the roots. You can skip additional feeding in summer and autumn, so that the wood ripens in good time.
Pruning
Prune the flowering cherry only when needed and straight after flowering in summer, so the wounds heal well during the growing phase. Generously remove dead, diseased or crossing branches; small corrections are usually enough. Pruning in winter or early spring carries a higher risk of fungal infections and should be avoided.
Overwintering
As a hardy tree, the flowering cherry needs no special winter protection in most locations in the DACH region. Young trees and freshly planted specimens benefit from a mulch ring around the root zone against frost. In very harsh locations or in severe frost, light trunk protection is worthwhile to prevent frost cracks.
Propagation
Methods
- Grafting
- Cuttings
The Japanese flowering cherry is usually propagated by grafting onto robust rootstocks, so that varietal traits such as flower shape and height are preserved. This method is best left to professionals, but it works reliably in late winter. Alternatively, you can take semi-ripe cuttings in summer, although the success rate is clearly lower with this species. Sowing is possible, but it rarely gives the variety you want and takes a lot of patience.
Companion planting
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
For your garden
Grow Japanese ornamental cherry yourself
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