Japanese Flowering Cherry Prunus serrulata
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Japanese Flowering Cherry:
- Phonetic Spelling
- PROO-nus ser-yoo-LAY-tuh
- Description
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Excellent spring color and interesting red brown mahogany bark make the Japanese flowering cherry a candidate for a specimen tree. It is vase-shaped to rounded and it can be short-lived. Kwanzan is a popular cultivar. This tree is resistant to damage by deer.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It is prone to trunk splitting.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Reynolda Palm House and Gardens Border Garden, Upcycled
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Kwanzan', 'Mt Fuji', 'Ukon'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Kwanzan', 'Mt Fuji', 'Ukon'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- serrulata
- Family:
- Roseaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Japan, China, Korea
- 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. Birds relish the fruits, though they are not plentiful.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- 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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Description:
- Rarely fruits.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- White or pink single or double flowers in mid-spring when leaves emerge.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2"-5" long 1 1/4"-2 1/2" wide alternate, simple, ovate to laceolate with serrate margins, cuneate to rounded base, acuminate apex. Petioles have 2-4 glands. New leaves are red, bronze to reddish fall color
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Bark Description:
- Red brown to gray mahogany bark with horizontal lenticles that make it easy to ID.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Short-lived
- Weak Wood
