Plant DetailShow Menu

Flowering Cherry Prunus 'NCPH1' Pink Cascade™

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
PROO-nus
Description

Pink Cascade™ flowering cherry is a strongly pendulous cultivar in the Roseacea (rose) family.  A dramatic weeper with bright pink flowers, this tree was developed as a collaborative project by NC State University and J. Frank Schmidt and Son Nursery.  U.S. Plant Patent Applied for (PPAF).  This is the ultimate weeping cherry. Diminutive and fine-textured, Pink Cascade™ is a strict weeper with blazing pink flowers. Train it up as high as desired and let the branches weep down in graceful cascades.   Nomenclature on this tree is a bit confusing because many weeping cherries are still incorrectly sold as cultivars of Prunus x subhirtella.

The height of this cultivar is defined mostly by cultivation techniques such as top grafting onto a tall standard or stake training to a tall stake or post.  On its own Pink Cascade™ will most likely never reach 20 feet in height, being more likely to grow along the ground without training or top grafting. With its pendulous nature it can get a bit wider over time, 20 feet in diameter being the maximum for a very mature specimen left to its own devices. To maintain the desired weeping pendulous form, remove all stems that grow vertically.   Pink Cascade™ is relatively long lived for a flowering cherry.

This tree has year-round interest. In late winter and early spring it is simply covered in showy pink blooms, moving into summer its weeping form and bright green leaves seem to cools the air as it sways in even the lightest breeze. Fall brings red and yellow and after the leaves have fallen, its drooping bare branches lend a sculptural grace to the winter landscape.

Best grown in moist, fertile, well-drained loams in full sun to part shade with the most prolific flowering occurring in full sun locations. While it tolerates heat and clay soils, avoid dry soils. 

Great as a small patio or specimen tree. Be creative, drape it over a wall, make an archway, or create an espalier dragon with a pink mane! 

Seasons of Interest:

      Foliage: Spring, summer Bloom: Late winter, early Spring  Twigs/Bark: Winter

Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: Ornamental cherries are generally considered to have good disease resistance. However, like all cherries, they could be susceptible to a large number of insect and disease problems depending upon growth conditions. Potential insects include aphids, scale, borers, leafhoppers, caterpillars, tent caterpillars, and Japanese beetles. Spider mites may also be troublesome. Potential diseases include cankers, black knot, leaf spot, die back, leaf curl, powdery mildew, root rot, and fire blight. This plant is often browsed by deer.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#weeping#deciduous#small tree#heat tolerant#specimen#nectar plant#pendulous#espalier#flowering tree#year-round interest#small mammals#deer browsing plant#ornamentals#nci#pollinator plant#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#arbor#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#disease problems#patio#insect problems#frequent insect problems#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#weeping#deciduous#small tree#heat tolerant#specimen#nectar plant#pendulous#espalier#flowering tree#year-round interest#small mammals#deer browsing plant#ornamentals#nci#pollinator plant#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#arbor#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#disease problems#patio#insect problems#frequent insect problems#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Prunus
    Family:
    Roseaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Wildlife Value:
    These flowers are a magnet for pollinators, however, they are also popular with deer. The seeds are attractive to birds and squirrels.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Weeping
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Fine
  • 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 Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    12-24 feet
    24-60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Fruits are rounded pea-sized fruits (to 1/3” diameter) that are sometimes sparse. Fruits eventually mature to black, but are inedible to humans. Fruits may not appear in some years.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Single-flowering, bright pink pendulous clusters of flowers occur on the weeping branches in late winter or early spring before the leaves emerge, effective for one week.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Doubly Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Elliptic to ovate, doubly serrate, green leaves (to 4” long) turning an ornamentally insignificant red or yellow in fall.
  • Bark:
    Bark Description:
    Bark provides winter interest
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Drooping branches add interest to the fall and winter landscape.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Patio
    Landscape Theme:
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Flowering Tree
    Small Tree
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Heat
    Problems:
    Frequent Disease Problems
    Frequent Insect Problems
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses