Prunus serrulata, Sakura Cherry

Plant of the Month - April 2025

GENERAL INFORMATION: 

A double, pink flowering cherry in my grandfather’s garden was one of the first I can remember. It was under planted with Lily-of-the-Valley. Wonderful for a small child! Later, I walked to college through Regent’s Park in London. There was an avenue planted with the same cherries. (These are now replaced with a beautiful single white cultivar.) I was delighted to find 2 trees in our garden when we bought our present house in Toronto in December 53 years ago. Sadly we found they were dying when spring came. (Probably about 25 years old.)

Flowering Cherries are special to Japan. They are perhaps Japan’s informal national flower. They are a symbol of good luck, love, and springtime. The short time of blooming time means cherry blossom trees also represent human mortality They remind us how short and precious life is. In 1959, Tokyo presented Toronto with 2000 cherry trees as Toronto helped to re-located Japanese Canadian refugees. 100 were initially planted in High Park. These were Somei-Yoshino cherry trees, a genetically sterile cultivar. Other Sakura tree donations have been planted in many locations in Toronto

Common Name: Japanese Flowering Cherry, East Asian Cherry.

Prunus serrulata - Flowers. 

Cultivars: Many cultivars and hybrids. Yoshino ‘Akebono’ and Kwanzan ‘Fugenzo’.

Life Cycle: Small tree with dense crown.

 

 Prunus serrulata - Dense branches.

Height: to 10 m.

Bloom Time: April to May in Toronto.

Flower Colour & Size: Clusters of 2-5 white or pink, or white with pink flushed petals, single or double flowers, about 3-5 cm across. 

Fruit: Small pea-sized black cherries. Poisonous in large quantities. Many cultivars are sterile.

Leaves: Green ovate leaves, approx. 5–13 cm long and 2.5–6.5 cm broad, with a short petiole and toothed margin, emerging with the flowers. Some cultivars have red-tinged spring leaves. Fall colour is red to yellow.

Prunus serrulata - young leaves + flower.

Bark: Glossy chestnut brown, with whitish horizontal lenticels.

Prunus serrulata - Bark.

Range: Native to East Asia - China, Japan, Korea.

 

Prunus serrulata at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. 

Habitat: Forest edges.

CULTIVATION: 

Plant: in early fall with plenty of humus.

Fertilize: Top dress with compost in the spring onwards.

Light: Full sun to partial; shade. Flowers best in full sun.

Soil: Moist, well drained, loamy soil. Not drought tolerant.

Water: Average moisture - hates waterlogged soil, but do not let plant dry out.

USDA Hardiness: Zones 5-8.

Pruning: Avoid if possible (risk of disease). After flowering if necessary.

Propagation: Semi hardwood cuttings, grafting.

Pest and Diseases: Many pests and diseases - borers, scale insects, spider mites, and aphids, leaf spots, dieback, leaf curl, powdery mildew, root rot, and fireblight. Short lived.

Wildlife: Most cultivars have little pollen and fruit.

Native Alternatives: Prunus pensylvanica, Pin Cherry.

References:

https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-are-sakura

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_serrulata

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/prunus-serrulata

https://www.thespruce.com/kwanzan-cherry-trees-2132134

 

Text and images supplied by Anna Leggatt (Toronto Master Gardener)