North Japanese Hill Cherry Prunus sargentii
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PROO-nus sar-JEN-tee-eye
- Description
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Sargent Cherry is a flowering tree in the rose family native to eastern Russia, Korea, and Japan. At maturity, it can reach a height of 30 feet with an equal spread and a 3 foot trunk. This ornamental tree has a graceful upright, rounded form, produces pink flowers in the early spring, and the leaves provide fall color. The bark, in particular, has rich, polished reddish to chestnut brown appearance. The genus name is from the Latin for plum or cherry tree. The species name honors Charles S. Sargent (1841-1927), the first director of the Arnold Arboretum in Boston.
Sargent Cherry grows best in full sun, in medium moisture, well drained soil. It will tolerate wind and partial shade, but not high heat and humidity, which can be a problem south of USDA Zone 7.
This tree is easy to transplant and casts a dense shade. It can be used as street tree. This tree is frequently damaged by deer. There are numerous clones in cultivation, although not distinct enough to warrant separate naming, they do vary in the color of the petals and in flowering-time.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
Foliage can scorch in full sun in hot summer conditions. Sargent cherry has good resistance to most of the pests that plague cherry trees.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Sir Edward Mueller
- Sir Edward Mueller
- Sir Edward Mueller
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Sir Edward Mueller
- Sir Edward Mueller
- Sir Edward Mueller
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- sargentii
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Russian Far East to Japan and Korea
- Distribution:
- New York
- Wildlife Value:
- This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north.
- Edibility:
- Small, pea-sized fruits are bitter and inedible fresh off the tree.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Small, 1/3 of an inch, glossy dark purple-black cherries ripen in early summer. This is one of the hardest cherries and is not edible.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- One to two inch, single, pink flowers in 2- to 4-flowered clusters (sessile umbels) appear before the foliage in spring.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2 to 5 inch alternate, simple, shiny dark green leaves; new leaves have a reddish tinge. Elliptic to oblong with acuminate tips and serrate margins, foliage turns attractive shades of red in fall.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Bark Description:
- Bark is rich, polished reddish to chestnut brown.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
