Types of Cherry Blossom Trees (With Japanese Cherry Blossom Pictures)
Cherry blossom trees are ornamental deciduous trees that produce masses of stunning white or pink flowers in spring. Flowering cherry trees are ideal for planting in sunny garden landscapes to add spring color to your yard. Growing cherry blossom trees is easy as they require minimal care and reward you with spectacular blossoms.
The majority of cherry blossom trees are native to Japan. However, Japanese cherry blossom trees grow in parks, gardens, sidewalks, and green urban areas in many countries. Many people flock to view these magnificent trees with pink blossoms in early and mid-spring.
There are over one hundred varieties of cherry blossom trees. Over the years, hundreds of more cultivars have been produced to make the cherry trees easy to grow in residential gardens. Some of the most decorative cherry trees are weeping cherry blossom trees or dwarf weeping cherry trees.
Large cherry blossom trees grow between 20 and 40 ft. (6 – 12 m) tall. But if you want cherry blossoms to grow in your front or backyard, then dwarf cherry blossoms have beautiful flowers and only grow up to 8 – 10 ft. (2.5 – 3m) tall.
Most cherry blossom trees produce fruit, but it’s small, sour, and inedible. However, cherry blossom trees are attractive to birds because they feed on the small cherries produced by the flowering trees.
Japanese cherry blossom trees are also called sakura—which literally means “cherry blossom.” The most common type of sakura is the species Prunus serrulata. However, the term sakura is widely used for many kinds of cherry blossom trees. For example, many cities have annual cherry blossom festivals or sakura matsuri.
This article is a guide to the most spectacular cherry blossom trees you can plant in your yard. Along with descriptions, pictures of cherry blossom trees can help you choose the best cultivar for your garden landscape.
Growing Cherry Blossom Trees
Cherry trees are flowering ornamental trees in the shrub and tree genus Prunus and family Rosaceae. Cherry blossom trees are small to medium-sized trees, famous for their spring blossoms.
Most cherry blossom trees grow in USDA zones 5 through 9. But some cold-hardy varieties of Japanese flowering cherry trees, such as Prunus serrulata ‘Kiku-Shidare-Zakura’ can be grown in zone 4. However, the popular Yoshino cherry tree Prunus x yedoensis ‘Somei-Yoshino’ won’t grow in zones above USDA 8.
To plant cherry blossom trees in your front or backyard, choose the sunniest spot in your garden. As well as needing six to eight hours of sunshine daily, flowering cherry trees need to grow in moist, well-draining soil. During the summer, you may need to water cherry blossom trees once or twice a week.
Cherry Blossom Flowers
Cherry blossom flowers can be white or pink and can be simple 5-petal flowers or double flowers with dozens of petals
Cherry blossom flowers are the most attractive feature of these ornamental trees. Flowers on cherry trees are showy blooms with between five and 30-50 petals each. The four types of cherry blossom flowers are single flowers, semi-double flowers, showy double flowers, and stunning chrysanthemum-type blooms.
Depending on the cherry blossom cultivar, flower petals can be oval, ovate, or round. Some of the most popular cherry blossom trees have masses of simple white flowers with five petals. Other cultivars, such as the Japanese sakura Prunus serrulata have large pink blossoms with hundreds of ruffled petals in flower clusters.
Cherry Blossom Colors
Most varieties of cherry blossoms (sakura) have flowers that are delicate hues of white to light pink. However, some cherry blossoms, such as the Japanese cherry blossom tree Prunus serrulata have deeper pink-colored flowers. More unusual cherry blossoms are pale creamy-yellow flowers that grow on the Prunus ‘Ukon’ tree. Or the unique pale green cherry blossoms that grow on the ‘Gyoiko’ cherry tree.
The most famous of all the cherry blossom colors are the pale pink blossoms on the Yoshino cherry tree Prunus yedoensis.
Cherry Blossom Season
Most varieties of cherry trees produce blossoms in spring, generally from the middle of March until the middle of April. Cherry blossoms typically last on the trees for two to three weeks. However, depending on the climate, the flowers can last longer in warmer temperatures.
Early season flowering cherry trees include the Higan cherry tree (Prunus subhirtella), the Weeping cherry tree (Prunus pendula), and the Yoshino cherry tree (Prunus yedoensis).
Midseason blossoming cherry trees include the Japanese Flowering cherry tree (Prunus serrulata ‘Kiku-Shidare-Zakura’), Double Weeping cherry tree (Prunus pendula ‘Pendula Plena Rosea’), and the Prunus pendula f. ascendens ‘Rosea.’
Late season flowering sakuras are Prunus ‘Pink Perfection,’ Prunus ‘Shirofugen,’ and Prunus ‘Shogetsu.’
Cherry Blossom Leaves
The leaves of Sargent’s cherry blossom (prunus sargentii) have red – orange color in the autumn
Leaves on cherry blossom trees are glossy green in an ovate shape with serrated margins. Ornamental cherry tree foliage starts as a green color with hints of bronze before turning dark green in summer. Many Japanese cherry blossom tree leaves have spectacular fall colors in shades of red, orange, gold, or coppery-yellow.
Cherry Blossom Trees (With Pictures)
Let’s look in detail at some of the best cherry blossom trees for growing in sunny gardens.
Japanese Cherry Blossom Tree (Prunus Serrulata) – Sakura Tree
Japanese cherry blossom tree (Sakura tree) has many cultivars with various flower shapes and colors
The sakura tree has glorious pink, showy blossoms that appear in early to mid-spring. Depending on the cultivar, Japanese cherry blossoms can be single, semi-double, or double flowers that are incredibly fragrant. The flowering cherry tree has dark-green ovate leaves that turn a warm bronze or red color in the fall.
Grow sakura trees in full sun and well-draining soil, ensuring they get enough water to keep the soil moist. Japanese flowering cherry trees grow between 15 and 25 ft. (4 – 8 m) tall with upright growth and a spreading crown.
Cherry blossom flower: Japanese cherry blossom (sakura) can have various flower colors that range from white to pink depending on the cultivar. The flowers appear on branches before the leaves. The shape, color, and fragrance of blossoms on Japanese cherry trees depend on the cultivar.
Kanzan Cherry Blossom Tree (Prunus Serrulata ‘Kanzan’)
Kanzan cherry tree adds decorative look to any garden with its showy pink flowers
Kanzan is one of the most ornamental cherry blossom trees. The flowering cherries grow between 25 and 30 ft. (7.6 – 9 m) tall with a spreading vase-shaped growth. The tree’s dark green leaves turn an attractive yellow or orange color in the fall before dropping.
Also called Kanzan or Sekiyama cherry trees, these cultivars don’t produce any fruit.
Plant Kanzan as a specimen landscape tree.
Cherry blossom flower: Kanzan cherry blossom trees have dark pink double flowers that grow in clusters of three to five. Each of the stunning showy flowers has up to 30 individual petals.
Yoshino Cherry Blossom Tree (Prunus yedoensis)
Yoshino cherry tree has beautiful white or pale pink flowers
Yoshino or Somei-Yoshino cherry is the most popular sakura due to its stunning white or pale pink flowers. Yoshino cherry has a vase-shaped crown with dark green foliage turning to orange and red in the fall. The fast-growing deciduous flowering cherry tree grows between 16 and 30 ft. (5 – 12 m). The small black cherry fruits are inedible but attract birds in the summer.
Cherry blossom flower: Yoshino cherry blossoms are single white to pink flowers with five petals. The white cherry flowers have tinges of pink and grow in clusters of three to six flowers, and bloom in early spring.
Okame Cherry Tree (Prunus x incam ‘Okame’)
Okame cherry tree is relatively small and grows 15 to 25 ft. (4.5 – 7.5 m) tall with similar spread
Okame flowering cherry trees have reddish-pink, five-petaled flowers. Okame cherry trees are small cherry trees with upright growth and a vase-shaped crown that becomes rounded as the tree matures. From flowering in early spring until late fall, the Okame cherry tree fills gardens with color. Okame cherry tree leaves are dark green that turn a warm orange to red color in the fall.
Because of its small size, Okame cherry blossom trees are extremely popular trees for sunny backyards.
Cherry blossom flower: Okame cherry tree flowers are single flowers with five petals. The deep pink-colored flowers have a red center and look stunning on the bare cherry tree branches.
Bird Cherry Blossom Tree (Prunus padus)
Bird cherry blossom tree can grow up to 49 ft. (15 m) tall
The ornamental Bird cherry trees are flowering trees that have fragrant white blossoms that dangle in clusters after leaves appear in the spring. Also called the European bird cherry, this fruit-producing tree has small pea-sized black cherries that are too sour to eat. The long, ovate green leaves turn a bright yellow color in the fall.
Unlike many varieties of cherry blossom trees, the Prunus padus flowers appear after the foliage.
Cherry blossom flower: Bird cherry blossoms are small white flowers growing as racemes. The pendulous flowers give off a pleasant fragrance when they blossom in mid to late spring.
Sargent’s Cherry Blossom Tree (Prunus sargentii)
Sargent’s cherry tree has spreading growth habit
The Sargent’s cherry is a species of Japanese ornamental cherry blossom tree with masses of light-pink flowers. Also called North Japanese Hill cherry, this cultivar grows between 20 and 40 ft. (6 – 12 m). Bright red buds appear in early spring that open up into pretty pink flowers with wavy edges. This cherry tree also has shiny, mahogany-colored bark.
The spreading growth habit of Sargent’s cherry tree makes this an excellent shade tree
The flowers of Sergant cherry tree are pink with 5 petals
Cherry blossom flower: Sargent cherry blossoms are single pink to deep pink-colored flowers appearing before the leaves. Small sour black cherries grow in clusters after blooming.
Fuji Cherry Blossom Tree (Prunus incisa)
The ornamental Fuji cherry tree has dainty white single flowers
Fuji cherry flowering trees are ornamental trees with a rounded growth and densely-growing foliage. Fuji cherry trees are small to medium-sized trees that grow between 20 and 26 ft. (6 – 8 m). The thin branches have a slightly drooping habit, but this isn’t a species of weeping cherry blossom trees. The oval pointed green leaves have double serration, and they turn yellow to orange in the fall.
Cherry blossom flower: Fuji cherry blossoms are white single fragrant flowers that dangle in clusters. The dainty cherry flowers appear in mid-March to early April.
Dwarf Flowering Fuji Cherry Tree (Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-No-Mai’)
‘Kojo-No-Mai’ is a dwarf cultivar of Fuji cherry tree that is suitable for small spaces
The flowering cherry tree ‘Kojo-No Mai’ is a dwarf cherry blossom tree that only grows up to 8 ft. (2.5 m). The blossoming miniature cherry tree is identified by its zig-zagging branches and masses of single white flowers. ‘Kojo-No Mai’ cherry tree leaves are lanceolate and dark green in summer before turning a spectacular red color in the fall.
Dwarf ‘Kojo-No Mai’ cherry trees are ideal for compact gardens or growing in containers on patios or decks.
Cherry blossom flower: ‘Kojo-No Mai’ cherry blossoms appear on bare branches from crimson buds. The dwarf Fuji cherry blossoms are single flowers made from thin whitish-pink petals.
Weeping Cherry Blossom Trees (With Pictures)
Weeping cherry blossom trees are some of the most stunning trees to flower in spring. The drooping, pendulous branches become a mass of white to pink breath-taking flowers. Weeping cherry trees are small to large trees that can be anywhere from 8 ft (2.4 m) tall to 30 ft. (9 m) tall.
Weeping Higan Cherry Blossom Tree (Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula’)
Weeping Higan cherry trees are beautiful specimen trees in any garden
The weeping Higan flowering cherry tree has double pink flowers and glossy green leaves. This Japanese weeping cherry blossom tree grows between 20 and 30 ft. (6 – 9 m). The arching cascading branches give the weeping tree a spread of up to 25 ft. (7.5 m). The fast-growing cherry tree has green lanceolate leaves that turn golden yellow in the fall.
A close up picture of weeping Higan cherry tree double flowers
Cherry blossom flower: Weeping Higan cherry blossoms are showy, double flowers that are a white to pink color. The blossoms cover bare cascading branches, making this cherry blossom tree a stunning tree.
Weeping Yoshino Cherry Blossom Tree (Prunus x yedoensis ‘Shidare-Yoshino’)
Weeping Yoshino cherry trees have cascading branches with white flowers
Weeping Yoshino cherry trees are eye-catching flowering trees with a rounded, umbrella-like crown. This cherry tree’s graceful drooping habit looks stunning any time of year. The bare branches burst into white colors in early spring when the flowers emerge. Dense green foliage turns gold and bronze colors in fall, and its shiny ornamental bark gives some winter interest.
Yoshino weeping cherry cultivars grow up between 20 and 25 ft. (6 – 7.5 m) and thrive in full sun.
Cherry blossom flower: Weeping Yoshino cherry tree blossoms are clusters of single white flowers covering pendulous bare branches.
Double Weeping Cherry Tree (Prunus x subhirtella ‘Pendula Plena Rosea’)
Double weeping cherry trees have graceful drooping growth habit with double pink flowers
The ‘Pendula Plena Rosea’ is one of the most spectacular weeping cherry blossom trees you can grow in your garden. This graceful flowering cherry tree grows between 15 and 25 ft. (4.5 – 7.5 m) with gracefully weeping branches. The cascading branches burst into bloom in mid-spring and become a pink color with double flowers drooping from the branches.
Cherry blossom flower: ‘Pendula Plena Rosea’ flowering cherry trees have clusters of double flowers in various shades of pink. Compared to other flowering cherry trees, this variety blossoms bloom for a long time.
Pink Snow Showers Weeping Cherry Tree (Prunus x ‘Pisnshzam’ syn. Prunus ‘Pink Snow Showers’)
Weeping Pink Snow Shower cherry trees create dramatic cascading flowers and foliage due to their graceful weeping growth habit. This cherry blossom tree cultivar grows up to 25 ft. (8 m) tall with a sizeable umbrella-like crown. This show-stopping flowering cherry tree’s green foliage turns golden yellow in the fall before revealing smooth red bark when the leaves drop.
Cherry blossom flower: Weeping Pink Snow Shower cherry blossoms are double flowers in a deep mauve or dark pink color. The cascading branches give the tree a look of a pink garden waterfall in mid-spring.
Dwarf Weeping Flowering Cherry Trees (With Pictures)
Dwarf weeping cherry blossom trees are perfect for small, compact gardens. The short cherry trees are also ideal as specimen trees or lawn trees in a sunny garden landscape. As with all varieties of cherry blossom trees, plant these trees in soil that has excellent drainage and water enough to keep the ground moist.
Japanese Weeping Cherry Blossom Tree (Prunus serrulata ‘Kiku-Shidare-Zakura’)
Japanese weeping cherry ‘Kiku-Shidare-Zakura’ has stunning ruffled pink flowers
Sakura Japanese weeping cherry trees are spectacular dwarf trees for landscaping your garden. Not growing taller than 10 ft. (3 m), these weeping blossom trees have drooping branches with stunning showy chrysanthemum ball-like flowers. The glossy green leaves turn an orangey-bronze color in the fall, revealing peeling bronze-colored bark.
Cherry blossom flower: ‘Kiku-Shidare-Zakura’ blossoms are large ruffled pink flowers like chrysanthemums. The late-blooming flowers appear in April and cover cascading branches.
Snow Fountain Dwarf Weeping Cherry Blossom Tree (Prunus serrulata ‘Snow Fountain’)
Snow Fountain weeping cherry tree has attractive pendulous branches with snow white single flowers
The Snow Fountain weeping cherry tree is one of the best examples of a flowering dwarf tree. The Prunus serrulata dwarf cultivar grows between 8 and 15 ft. (2.4 – 4.5 m) tall with a narrow growth habit. Flowering occurs in mid-spring when the small cherry tree turns into cascading white fragrant flowers. After blossoming, lush green foliage appears that turns eye-catching golden-yellow shades in the fall.
Cherry blossom flower: Snow Fountain cherry blossom trees have small single white flowers that cover arching branches. In full spring, blooms on this cherry tree look like a fountain of cascading snowflakes.
Hiromi Dwarf Weeping Cherry Blossom Tree (Prunus jacquemontii ‘Hiromi’)
Hiromi weeping cherry trees are dwarf flowering landscaping trees that don’t grow taller than 6 or 7 feet (1.8 – 2 m). Hiromi dwarf weeping cherry blossom trees grow in full sun and moist soil. The graceful weeping growth produces stunning pink blossoms every spring. The dwarf tree’s green leaves turn bright golden yellow in the fall.
This weeping cherry blossom tree is one of the few shrubby cherry trees you can plant as a flowering privacy hedge or screen.
Cherry blossom flower: Hiromi cherry blossoms are showy, single flowers in hues of light pink.
Learn about other beautiful flowering trees to plant in any large or small garden.
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