Prunus serrulata seeds

Habitat

native to Japan, China, and Korea
hardy to zone 5
Habit and Form

a large deciduous tree
60′ to 70′ tall
most cultivars only get to 30′ tall
rounded to vase-like shape
medium texture
fast growth rate

Summer Foliage

simple, deciduous leaves
alternate leaf arrangement
ovate leaf shape
3″ to 5″ long and up to 2″ wide
serrate leaf margin
pointed leaf apex
red when emerging changing to a dark green
2 to 4 glands found on leaf petiole
Autumn Foliage

fall color is bronze to red
somewhat showy
Flowers

depends on cultivar range from white to pink and can be single or double
flowers in April
borne along stems, before leaves emerge

Fruit

blackish purple fruit
Bark

gray brown
prominent horizontal lenticels

Culture

full sun
easily transplanted from bare root, B&B, or containers
soil adaptable
prefers a well-drained soil
prune after flowering in spring
Landscape Use

specimen
small groupings
for flowering effect
Liabilities

short-lived
many insect and disease problems
ID Features

a large deciduous tree
rounded tree crown
short main trunk
ovate simple leaves with serrated leaf margin
showy flowers
black fruit
2 to 4 glands on leaf petiole
prominent horizontal lenticels
Propagation

by softwood cuttings
Cultivars/Varieties

‘Amanogawa’ – Notable for its strict fastigiate growth form, this selection grows 20′ tall with a spread of perhaps 5′. The flowers are single to semi-double, pink and fragrant.

‘Kwanzan’ (also listed as ‘Kanzan’, perhaps more correctly ‘Sekiyama’) – One of the most common flowering trees, this selection is also the most popular double-flowering P. serrulata cultivar. It blooms heavily every spring with double pink blooms that are often over 2″ in diameter. The new leaves emerge with a bronzy overlay, turning green in summer. The fall color is orange-brown. Initially upright, this 25′ tall tree becomes more rounded with age. It is the hardiest double-flowering cultivar..

‘Royal Burgundy’ – This plant is very similar to ‘Kwanzan’, except the leaves are reddish-purple all season.

‘Shirofugen’ – The double blooms of this cultivar emerge white from pink buds, but soon age to pink. It is a spreading tree with bronzy young leaves.

‘Shirotae’ (also known as ‘Mt. Fuji’) – Bearing ample quantities of double white flowers in spring, this 25′ tall and wide tree has a spreading habit with slightly drooping branches. The blooms are fragrant and feature ruffling along the petal margins.

‘Shogetsu’ (also listed as ‘Shimidsu’) – A small rounded tree to 20′ tall, this plant bears double light pink-white blooms. The young foliage is bronzy.

‘Snowgoose’ – This selection sports abundant white flowers and healthy green, disease-resistant foliage. It becomes a 20′ tall oval-rounded tree that may be better adapted to warmer locales (USDA zone 7+) than other types.