Prunus serrulata

PlantFile Report Copyright © 2000 - 2025 Peter Kirkland - www.plantfile.com Plant Profile
Plant
ID 49 Prunus serrulata
Botanic Name Prunus serrulata
Common Name Japanese Flowering Cherry, Oriental Cherry
Family Name Rosaceae
Cultivars 'Amanogawa','Fugenzo','Kanzan','Kanzan', 'Fugenzo','Shimidsu Sakura','Okumiyako','Shirotae', 'Mt Fuji','Shirofugen' 'Daikoku', 'Shujaku','Mikuruma-gaeshi','Ichiyo' 'Ukon'
Origin Japan, Zone 5-9
Growth Type Tree
Bark Type Smooth
Foliage Type Deciduous Water Use High
No. of Species 400
Growth Habit Vase-shape Growth Rate Medium
Height 5 - 8 m (17 - 27 ft) Spread 3 m (10 ft)
Plant Overview
This deciduous tree has a short trunk with many spreading branches that form vase-shaped crown. It has dark green oval leaves that turn yellow-scarlet during autumn and the drooping greenish-white to rose pink flowers appear in a cluster during spring.
Leaf
Type Simple Additional Information
Shape Ovate
The dark green ovate to oblong leaves are up to 120 mm (4 3/4 in) long and have a cuneate base and a long acuminate apex. The petiole is up to 25 mm (1 in) long and the margin is serrate to biserrate. The new growth is bronze turning green.
Arrangement Alternate
Margin Serrate
Colour Dark green
Size 80 - 120 mm ( 3.1 - 4.7 in )
Flower
Perfume Faint Additional Information
Shape Crateriform
The drooping crateriform flowers have 5-petals with a long pendulous pedicels that appears from spurs in an axillary umbel before the leaves in spring. The colours range from white to pink with some cultivars have double or ruffled and semi-double.
Inflorescence Umbel
Colour White - pink
Size 20 - 30 mm ( 0.8 - 1.2 in )
Flowering in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Fruit
Type Drupe Additional Information
Colour Black
The fruit is fleshy with a single hard centre (stone) pea size. The small seeds are viable but the plant is commonly reproduced vegetatively.
Edible Yes
Bird Attractive Yes
Size 5 - 8 mm ( 0.2 - 0.3 in )
Fruiting in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Environment & Cultivation
Natural Soil Well drained fertile moist soils, tolerates poorer soil, tending acidic
Container Not normally grown as a container plant
Climate Cold - cool temperate
Aspect Full sun, hot wind and drought protection tolerates frost to -5 deg.C.
Pest & Diseases Leaf spot, canker, borer, aphids, caterpillars, powdery mildew, wilt, rust
Fertiliser Complete fertiliser during spring, mulch and keep moist during summer
Pruning Remove dead and old flowering wood from centre after flowering
Cultural Uses Propagation
Japanese Flowering Cherry is grown for as flowers and rounded crown. It is planted in small or Japanese gardens as a specimen or group plantings along pathways or avenues. It is also used as a summer shade tree establishing in 5 to 8 years.
Take hardwood cuttings during winter. Apical grafting during spring and shield budding during summer. Take greenwood cuttings during early summer and apply bottom heat.
© 2025 PlantFileonline. All Rights Reserved.
Designed and Developed by Tatvasoft Australia