Eye-catching in spring, fades into the background in summer and ends its season with a firework of colors in autumn - the Japanese cherry tree is a popular ornamental tree. Everything you should know about it is summarized here.

Brief profile of Japanese ornamental cherry

  • Origin: Japan
  • Plant family and genus: Rosaceae, Prunus
  • Habit: upright, broadly funnel-shaped to overhanging, up to 12 m high, 5 to 8 m wide
  • Foliage: Deciduous, ovate to elliptic, serrated
  • Flowering: March to April
  • Fruits: July, drupes
  • Location: full sun, sheltered
  • Soil: rich in humus, calcareous, moist
  • Diseases and pests: Monilia, shotgun disease
  • Propagation: cuttings
  • Care: thin out
  • Use: ornamental tree for parks, avenues, gardens

your outward appearance

While the wood is covered by a grey-brown to grey-black bark with characteristic horizontal stripes, the leaves are medium green to dark green in colour. They are arranged in an alternate sequence around the shoots, are smooth, ovate to elliptical in shape and tinted yellow to red in autumn.

Before the deciduous foliage appears, the hermaphrodite and fivefold flowers of the Japanese cherry tree are presented. They grow up to 5 cm wide, adorn the entire crown in large numbers and are enormously ornamental due to their white, pink to neon pink color.

With luck, the blossoms will be replaced by the edible cherries. Usually no fruits develop. But when they do, they mature in July. They are dark red to black in color.

your location requirements

The Japanese cherry tree wishes - preferably in autumn - to be planted in full sun. There it forms the most flowers. The soil should be deep and well-drained. Slightly sandy-humic substrates with an alkaline pH are well suited.

care needs and handling

This plant requires very little care. It is very hardy and when caring for it, it is sufficient to water it regularly and thin it out in the early years. It does not necessarily require fertilizer. At best, it can be supplied with lime and a phosphorus-rich fertilizer. There is usually no need to take action against diseases and pests as this plant is extremely robust.

tips and tricks

Annual pruning of this ornamental cherry largely prevents the development of diseases and keeps it flowering.

Category:

Trees