Plant DetailShow Menu

Spring Cherry Prunus x subhirtella

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
PROO-nus sub-HIR-tel-uh
Description

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 Garden: Souto Sun Garden
Cultivars / Varieties:
'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:
#deciduous#specimen#flowering tree#street tree#black fruits#parks#small group plantings#problem for cats#problem for dogs#bee friendly#problem for horses#lawn planting
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'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:
#deciduous#specimen#flowering tree#street tree#black fruits#parks#small group plantings#problem for cats#problem for dogs#bee friendly#problem for horses#lawn planting
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Fruit Description:
    Pea-sized oval black drupe
  • 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
  • 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
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Red/Burgundy
    Bark Description:
    Shiny reddish-brown bark with prominent lenticels.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • 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