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Prunus x subhirtella 'Pendula' is often confused with:
Prunus domestica 'Stanley' Prunus domestica 'Stanley'
Prunus x subhirtella Flowers of 'Autumnalis'
Prunus x yedoensis Prunus x yedoensis
Native alternative(s) for Prunus x subhirtella 'Pendula':
Cercis canadensis tree form with pink blooms
Chionanthus virginicus Flowering branch
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Nerium oleander 'Hardy Pink' Flowers - Sept. 15 - Wake Co., NC
Prunus laurocerasus Prunus laurocerasus
Prunus x yedoensis Prunus x yedoensis

Prunus x subhirtella 'Pendula'

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Prunus pendula
  • Prunus subhirtella var. pendula
Phonetic Spelling
PROO-nis sub-HIR-tel-uh
Description

Weeping Higan Cherry is a weeping flowering cherry tree from Japan. It is deciduous, grafted, and grows up to 40 feet tall and wide with pendulous branches that are ascending, slender, pendulous, scabrate, and have double pink flowers in umbrels of 2-5 blooms in spring.  It prefers moist, well-drained soils of average fertility in full sun, but is adaptable to poorer soils, compaction and dry soils once established. This plant has no good fall color. Several cultivars of this species are pendulous and part of the Pendula Group of cultvars. 

The trees are grafted onto Prunus avium rootstock at 4-5 ft in height. Be sure to prune off any growth at or below the graft as it will not have a weeping form. Weeping branches can be pruned shorter to allow for walking and mowing under or for plantings under the tree.

Problems: Susceptible to many viral and fungal diseases and insects. Potential diseases include cankers, black knot, leaf spot, dieback, leaf curl, powdery mildew, root rot and fireblight. Potential insects include aphids, scale, borers, leafhoppers, caterpillars, tent caterpillars and Japanese beetles. Spider mites may also be troublesome.

Quick ID Hints:

  • Deciduous weeping tree with pink spring flowers
  • Leaves with large wart-like glands on petiole and blade margin
  • Twigs andepetiole scabrate

More information on Prunus x subhirtella.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#weeping#showy flowers#heat tolerant#pendulous#flowering tree#fast growing#red fruits#light pink flowers#black fruits#fantz#compaction tolerant#flowers early spring#poor soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#weeping#showy flowers#heat tolerant#pendulous#flowering tree#fast growing#red fruits#light pink flowers#black fruits#fantz#compaction tolerant#flowers early spring#poor soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Prunus
    Family:
    Roseaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Grafting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Japan
    Dimensions:
    Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Oval
    Weeping
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    24-60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Red/Burgundy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    1/3 inch red, glossy ovoid fruits are usually sparsely produced and mature to a black color.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Saucer
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Description:
    Single or double flowers are light pink in pendulous clusters appearing before leaves in early spring and lasting about one week. Inflorescence is a congested corymb with elongated pedicels and very short rachis that give the appearance of an umbel.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Oblong
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Doubly Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Dark green shiny, simple, alternate, ovate to lanceolate to oblong-ovate, cuneate, and have doubly serrate margins and acuminate apex. They have a short petiole that is short, scabrate, and bear two or more large wart-like glands on the petiole apex, but may have more glands intact with the blade base or on the blade margin near the base. Yellow fall color. Leaf size is 2-4 inches long by 1-2 inches wide.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Gray
    Light Brown
    Surface/Attachment:
    Exfoliating
    Lenticels
    Bark Description:
    Single trunk, copper with lenticles, gray plates exfoliating as it ages.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Long, thin, weeping unbranched stems.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Pond
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Water Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Flowering Tree
    Small groups
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Compaction
    Dry Soil
    Heat
    Poor Soil
    Problems:
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses