Higan Cherry Prunus x subhirtella
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PROO-nus sub-HIR-tel-uh
- Description
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One of the longest-lived cherries, it prefers full sun, moist, well-drained soil. It is an upright tree that spreads as it matures. It tolerates summer heat, winter cold and clay soil better than other cherries. Plant it as a specimen tree, in small groups, in a lawn, park, or along a street, This tree is frequently damaged by deer.
This tree is generally not sold commercially and most of the trees sold under the name Higan Cherry are actually cultivars with ‘Autumnalis Rosea' being popular. The cultivars are generally shorter with showier flowers and weeping forms are available.
Higan cherry is generally considered to have good disease resistance, but like all cherries, it is susceptible to many insects and diseases.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Souto Sun Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Autumnalis' also known as 'Jugatsu-zakura'
- 'lo Sakura'
Flowers are small, abundant and faded pink
'Pendula'
- 'Pendula Plena Rosea' also known as 'Yae-shidare-higan'
Flowers are double and pink - 'Plena Rubra'
Flowers are deep pink and have a ruby bud - 'Rosy Cloud'
Large double pink blooms - 'Shidare Higan'
Flowers are small, abundant, and faded pink
'Snofozam'
Blooms sporadically in the fall 'Autumnalis Rosea'
Double pink flowers in spring with a sparse additional fall bloom
Weeping form; flowers are small, abundant and faded pink
Weeping, snow white flowers - 'lo Sakura'
- 'Autumnalis' also known as 'Jugatsu-zakura', 'Autumnalis Rosea', 'lo Sakura', 'Pendula', 'Pendula Plena Rosea' also known as 'Yae-shidare-higan', 'Plena Rubra', 'Rosy Cloud', 'Shidare Higan', 'Snofozam'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
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'Autumnalis' also known as 'Jugatsu-zakura'
- 'lo Sakura'
Flowers are small, abundant and faded pink
'Pendula'
- 'Pendula Plena Rosea' also known as 'Yae-shidare-higan'
Flowers are double and pink - 'Plena Rubra'
Flowers are deep pink and have a ruby bud - 'Rosy Cloud'
Large double pink blooms - 'Shidare Higan'
Flowers are small, abundant, and faded pink
'Snofozam'
Blooms sporadically in the fall 'Autumnalis Rosea'
Double pink flowers in spring with a sparse additional fall bloom
Weeping form; flowers are small, abundant and faded pink
Weeping, snow white flowers - 'lo Sakura'
- 'Autumnalis' also known as 'Jugatsu-zakura', 'Autumnalis Rosea', 'lo Sakura', 'Pendula', 'Pendula Plena Rosea' also known as 'Yae-shidare-higan', 'Plena Rubra', 'Rosy Cloud', 'Shidare Higan', 'Snofozam'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- subhirtella
- Family:
- Roseaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Japan
- Wildlife Value:
- Nectar from the flowers attract bees.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Description:
- Pea-sized oval black drupe
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Clusters of 0.5" white to pinkish 5 petaled flowers in early spring
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Doubly Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2" to 4" alternate simple, ovate to lanceolate doubly serrate margins, cuneate base, acuminate apex with glands at the base of the petiole. Yellowish fall color
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Bark Description:
- Shiny reddish-brown bark with prominent lenticels.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
