Japanese flowering cherry

What does Japanese flowering cherry look like?

Japanese flowering cherry is a small tree, usually 8 to 12 metres tall, with a short trunk and a dense, rounded crown. Its bark is smooth and chestnut-brown, marked by horizontal lines. Leaves are simple, pointed and turn yellow, red, or crimson in autumn. In spring, clusters of two to five flowers bloom at the same time as new leaves appear. Wild trees have five-petalled flowers, white to pink, while cultivated forms often have double or semi-double blossoms in shades from white to deep pink, and sometimes cream or pale yellow. The fruit is a small, bitter black cherry rarely eaten raw.

Where does Japanese flowering cherry come from?

Prunus serrulata grows wild in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. In Japan, people have bred many ornamental cultivars by crossing wild cherries, especially the Oshima cherry, since at least the Kamakura period. These trees were planted in temple grounds, shrines, and gardens, and became central to urban life during the Edo period. The tree spread to temperate regions worldwide as an ornamental, and is now a symbol of spring in many countries.

When and how Japanese flowering cherry blooms

The tree flowers in spring, with blossoms opening at the same time as new leaves. Cultivated forms are often grafted onto other cherry rootstocks, especially in Europe and North America. Some double-flowered varieties are sterile and must be propagated by grafting or cuttings. The trees are grown for their flowers, not their fruit, and are planted in gardens, parks, and along streets.

How Japanese flowering cherry is used

Japanese flowering cherry is best known for its role in cherry blossom viewing, or hanami, especially in Japan. People gather under the trees to enjoy the brief but spectacular bloom. The trees are also planted for home and public decoration, and some cultivars are city emblems or featured in festivals. The fruit is not usually eaten fresh due to its bitter taste.

Kinds of Japanese flowering cherry

There are many cultivars, including 'Kanzan' (deep pink, double flowers), 'Amanogawa' (upright, pale pink), 'Fugenzo' (double, deep pink fading to pale), 'Ichiyo' (double, pale pink to white), 'Shirotae' (pure white, semi-double), 'Taihaku' (large, single white), and 'Ukon' (semi-double, cream or pale yellow). Some, like 'Kanzan', are especially popular in Europe and North America.

What Japanese flowering cherry means

The Japanese flowering cherry is central to the custom of hanami, where people celebrate the fleeting beauty of the blossoms. Many cultivars are city or regional emblems, and the trees are planted in parks and along streets for public enjoyment. In Germany, the city of Bonn is known for its cherry tree avenues. The tree's symbolism is tied to the transient nature of life.

Where Japanese flowering cherry is used and seen

Eastwoodhill ArboretumNew Zealand’s national arboretum with thousands of trees from around the world

Traditions that use it

Where to see Japanese flowering cherry

🇩🇪 Bonn · AprilThe cherry blossom street in Bonn's old townNarrow residential streets in Bonn where Japanese cherry trees meet overhead in a pink tunnel for about two weeks in April.

Questions people ask about Japanese flowering cherry

Good reading and sources

• USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
• Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
• Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
• Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database

• Prunus serrulata on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data