Weeping cherry 'Kiku-shidare-zakura'

Sun

Full sun gives the best flowering; tolerates light partial shade.

Water

Keep evenly moist while establishing. Once established, water deeply during prolonged dry spells, especially in hot weather.

Soil

Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil; tolerates clay, loam and sandy soil if drainage is adequate. Avoid waterlogged ground.

Height

10-15 ft (3-4.5 m)

Spread

10-15 ft (3-4.5 m)

Flowers

Mid- to late spring, usually April-May in the Northern Hemisphere and September-October in the Southern Hemisphere; densely double, deep pink flowers.

Foliage

Bronze young leaves turn green in summer, then yellow to orange in autumn.

Growth

Moderate; slows as the crown matures.

Care needed

Medium

• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   7 ft (2.1 m)

3. After 2 years

   7 ft (2.1 m)

4. After 3 years

   7 ft (2.2 m)

5. After 5 years

   8 ft (2.3 m)

About 26 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant with the root flare at soil level and the graft union clearly above the soil.
• Water deeply through the first two growing seasons whenever the root zone begins to dry.
• Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it away from the trunk.
• Stake only if needed for stability; check ties regularly and remove the support once roots hold the tree firmly.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Remove shoots arising below the graft and suckers from the roots before they become woody.

Pruning. Prune sparingly in dry weather in summer, removing dead, damaged or crossing branches and shortening only those that obstruct access. Avoid routine winter pruning and large cuts, which increase the risk of silver leaf and bacterial canker.

Autumn

Plant while soil is workable and well drained; in very cold regions, wait until spring.

Early spring

Check stakes and ties, refresh mulch and feed lightly only if needed.

Spring

Check new shoots for aphids and remove any growth below the graft.

Summer

Carry out necessary light pruning during a dry spell.

Summer

Water deeply during drought, particularly while the tree is establishing.

Late autumn

Remove diseased fallen leaves and check that mulch is clear of the trunk.

• Use as a single specimen in a small lawn, allowing enough room for the branches to cascade naturally.
• Place beside a patio or seating area where the spring flowers can be seen at close range.
• Underplant with spring bulbs and low groundcovers that do not hide the trunk.
• Use beside a path or pond as a focal point, keeping the roots out of waterlogged soil and branches clear of access.

Garden styles it suits: Japanese, Cottage garden, Romantic rose garden, Traditional, Small-space and Pastel border.

Plant it with: Snowdrops, Crocuses, Daffodils, Hellebores, Epimediums and Japanese forest grass.

Wildlife: The dense double flowers offer much less accessible pollen and nectar than single-flowered cherries. Branches provide shelter and perching places for birds, and the foliage supports some insects.

• Bacterial canker: sunken bark, gum and dying shoots may develop. Prune affected branches back to healthy wood in dry summer weather, disinfect tools and avoid unnecessary wounds.
• Silver leaf: silvery foliage and branch dieback can indicate infection. Remove affected branches in summer; seek an arborist's advice if the trunk or major limbs are involved.
• Aphids: colonies curl young leaves and produce sticky honeydew. Wash off small infestations with water and encourage natural predators.
• Brown rot blossom blight: flowers and young shoots brown and die, especially in wet springs. Remove blighted shoots in dry summer weather and clear infected debris.

Leaves, stems and seeds contain cyanogenic compounds and can poison cats, dogs, horses and people if eaten. Wilted leaves are especially hazardous to grazing animals; serious poisoning can be fatal. Do not allow pets or livestock to eat foliage or prunings, and do not chew or crush any cherry stones.

• Snow Fountains weeping cherry (Prunus 'Snofozam')

  Has single white flowers rather than densely double pink flowers.

• Pink weeping cherry (Prunus pendula 'Pendula Rosea')

  Has single, usually paler pink flowers and can develop into a substantially larger tree.

• Kanzan flowering cherry (Prunus 'Kanzan')

  Also has double pink flowers, but its branches form an upright, spreading crown rather than a strongly weeping one.

The Japanese cultivar name means 'chrysanthemum weeping cherry', referring to its many-petalled flowers and drooping branches.

Propagation. Usually propagated by budding or grafting onto a compatible cherry rootstock. Seedlings will not reproduce the cultivar; buying a named grafted tree is the most practical option for homeowners.

Accepted botanical name

Prunus

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.