Yoshino cherry

Sun

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

Water

Keep the root zone evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply during dry spells, especially in the first two growing seasons.

Soil

Moist, well-drained loam is ideal. Tolerates clay or sandy soil if drainage and moisture are adequate; avoid compacted ground and standing water.

Height

30-40 ft (9-12 m)

Spread

30-40 ft (9-12 m)

Flowers

Early to mid-spring; pale pink buds open to lightly fragrant, white or very pale pink flowers, usually before the leaves.

Foliage

Oval, pointed, sharply toothed green leaves; young growth may be bronze-tinted, with yellow to orange colour in autumn.

Growth

Moderate to fast when young, slowing with age.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Wildlife
• Low allergen
• Fragrant

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

   8 ft (2.4 m)

3. After 2 years

   9 ft (2.8 m)

4. After 3 years

   11 ft (3.3 m)

5. After 5 years

   14 ft (4.1 m)

About 20 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

Moderate

• Plant with the root flare at soil level and any graft union above the soil.
• Water deeply during dry weather for the first two growing seasons; established trees also need water during prolonged drought.
• Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed in spring only if growth is weak or a soil test indicates a deficiency; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Keep lawn mowers and strimmers away from the trunk, and remove shoots arising below the graft.
• Stake only if the root ball moves in wind, using flexible ties; remove the support once roots hold the tree securely.

Pruning. Prune sparingly in dry summer weather, removing dead, damaged or crossing branches and making small cuts just outside the branch collar. Avoid routine winter pruning and large cuts, which increase the risk of disease and decay.

Autumn

Plant while the soil is workable and not waterlogged; in very cold regions, wait until spring.

Early spring

Plant in cold regions once the ground is workable; check existing trees for loose ties and replenish mulch.

Spring

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

Summer

Carry out light pruning during dry weather and inspect branches for dieback or sunken bark.

Summer

Water deeply during prolonged dry spells, particularly around young trees.

Late autumn

Collect diseased fallen leaves and check that mulch is not touching the trunk.

• Use as a lawn specimen where its broad crown can develop without repeated pruning.
• Plant along a wide path or drive for a spring canopy, allowing generous space for branches and surface roots.
• Underplant with snowdrops, daffodils and low groundcover for a layered spring display.
• Place against a dark evergreen backdrop to make the pale blossom stand out.
• Use near a seating area in a Japanese-inspired garden, allowing space for fallen petals and leaves.

Garden styles it suits: Japanese, Traditional, Romantic rose garden, Woodland, White garden and Grand estate.

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

Wildlife: Flowers provide pollen and nectar for early bees. Small, dark fruits, when produced, are eaten by birds; branches provide perching and nesting cover.

• Bacterial canker: sunken bark, gum and dying shoots may appear. Prune affected branches back to healthy wood in dry summer weather, disinfect tools between cuts and avoid unnecessary wounds.
• Silver leaf: silvery foliage and branch dieback can indicate infection. Remove affected branches during dry summer weather; seek an arborist's advice if the main trunk is involved.
• Aphids: colonies can curl young leaves and leave sticky honeydew. Wash off small colonies with water and encourage ladybirds and other predators; avoid spraying open flowers.
• Leaf scorch and premature leaf drop: drought, compacted soil or poor drainage can stress roots. Check soil moisture before watering, mulch widely and address drainage rather than repeatedly soaking wet ground.

Leaves, stems and seed kernels contain cyanogenic compounds and are toxic to cats, dogs, horses and people if eaten in sufficient amounts. Wilted leaves are particularly hazardous to horses and other grazing animals; poisoning can be rapidly fatal. Fruit flesh is not generally considered toxic, but the stones must not be chewed or crushed, and this tree is not grown as an eating cherry.

• Sargent's cherry (Prunus sargentii)

  Usually has more distinctly pink flowers and conspicuous bronze-red young leaves; its flowers and leaves commonly emerge together.

• Japanese flowering cherry (Prunus serrulata)

  Many garden forms have densely double pink flowers and a more upright or vase-shaped crown; Yoshino typically has single, nearly white flowers and a broadly spreading crown.

• Higan cherry (Prunus × subhirtella)

  Usually has smaller flowers and leaves; some forms weep or flower intermittently in autumn and winter, unlike the main spring display of Yoshino.

The botanical epithet yedoensis refers to Edo, the former name of Tokyo, while Yoshino recalls the Japanese district celebrated for flowering cherries.

Propagation. Usually propagated by budding or grafting onto a suitable cherry rootstock. Softwood cuttings can root under controlled conditions, but success varies. Seed-grown plants will not reliably match the parent.

Accepted botanical name

Prunus yedoensis

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