Dwarf Weeping Cherry Trees – Including Care Guide (With Pictures)
Dwarf weeping cherry trees are beautiful deciduous flowering trees, ideal for compact garden landscapes. When cherry trees blossom in spring, these small weeping trees produce masses of pinkish-white flowers that cover the drooping branches. With their short stature and cascading spring blossoms, weeping cherry blossom trees are a spectacular addition to your front or backyard.
Ornamental dwarf weeping cherry trees grow best in full sun and well-draining fertile soil. Because these dwarf ornamental cherry trees only grow to about 8 ft. (2.4 m), they are perfect for growing as a decorative specimen tree or landscaping a small garden.
You can grow small droopy cherry trees if you live in USDA zones 5 through 9.
Dwarf weeping cherry trees blossom for a few weeks every spring. Caring for cherry blossom trees is not difficult – with the right care and attention, you can enjoy these stunning flowering trees throughout the year.
This article looks at three spectacular dwarf weeping cherry trees for your garden. Additionally, you’ll get some helpful tips on caring for miniature weeping cherry trees so that they thrive all year long.
What is Dwarf Weeping Cherry Tree?
Dwarf weeping cherry trees are small flowering trees in the genus Prunus. The blossoming deciduous trees have a droopy growth habit due to their soft, flexible branches. These arching branches cascade down the sides of the tree, giving the small cherry blossom trees a weeping look.
Miniature weeping cherry blossom trees are smaller cultivars of the larger species. However, with plenty of pruning, most weeping cherry trees can be trained to have short growth under 15 ft. (4.5 m) tall. Yet, buying the dwarf cherry tree cultivars means you have less maintenance to enjoy this small weeping tree in your garden.
The main characteristics of dwarf weeping cherry blossom trees are their drooping branches and delightful spring blossoms. Depending on the cherry tree species, the flowers have at least five petals and are various shades of pink and white. Also, the delightful spring blossoms will attract butterflies and bees.
The most spectacular dwarf weeping cherry tree is the Japanese cherry tree ‘Kiku-Shidare-Zakura’—or sakura for short. These small trees have large stunning pink blossoms with masses of ruffled petals, making the cherry flowers look like powder puffs.
Weeping cherry blossom trees produce fruit, but it’s small, sour, and inedible. The small cherries produced by the weeping cherry blossom trees are attractive to birds who enjoy the fruit.
After blossoming, dwarf weeping cherry trees have glossy green foliage made up of lanceolate leaves. Then in the fall, leaves turn to shades of red, orange, or gold before dropping from the tree.
Please read this article on types of sweet and tart cherries for information on cherry trees producing edible fruit.
How Tall Does a Dwarf Weeping Cherry Tree Get?
Dwarf weeping cherry blossom trees grow between 6 and 15 ft. (1.8 – 4.5 m). Their cascading branches give the cherry trees a slender stature when compared to other sizeable weeping shade trees. Small cherry trees have a spread of between 2 and 15 ft. (0.6 – 4.5 m).
The Hiromi weeping cherry tree is the shortest of the cultivars and grows no taller than 6 ft (1.8 m). The tallest of the dwarf weeping varieties is the Japanese sakura that usually grows to 10 ft. (3 m)—although sometimes a few feet taller. In the middle is the Snow Fountain weeping cherry tree that grows to around 8 ft. (2.4 m).
Compared to other types of weeping cherry trees that grow up to 25 ft., these dwarf varieties are much smaller.
Varieties of Dwarf Weeping Cherry Trees
Here are three main varieties of dwarf weeping cherry blossom trees:
- Japanese dwarf weeping cherry tree (Prunus serrulata ‘Kiku-Shidare-Zakura’). The stunning sakura cherry tree has ruffled double pink blossoms that cover arching branches.
- Snow Fountain dwarf weeping cherry tree (Prunus serrulata ‘Snow Fountain’). This spectacular dwarf tree has an umbrella growth habit with weeping branches covered in fragrant white spring flowers.
- Hiromi dwarf weeping cherry tree (Prunus jacquemontii ‘Hiromi’). This slender weeping tree produces dainty pink blossoms when it blooms every spring.
How to Care for Dwarf Weeping Cherry Blossom Trees
Plant dwarf weeping cherry trees in well draining soil and in a location that gets full sun. The dwarf weeping trees must grow in moist soil that never becomes waterlogged. When planting your landscape trees, ensure that you allow room for their umbrella-like drooping canopies to get enough air circulation between the foliage.
Types of Dwarf Weeping Cherry Trees (With Pictures)
Here are the types of dwarf weeping cherry trees to grow in your garden.
Japanese Flowering Dwarf Weeping Cherry Tree (Prunus serrulata ‘Kiku-Shidare-Zakura’)
Japanese dwarf weeping cherry tree has showy ruffled pink flowers
Often called sakura, Japanese dwarf weeping cherry trees have stunning pink, showy blossoms. Each flower head is a mass of ruffled petals that grow in clusters hanging off drooping branches. The chrysanthemum-like flowers give off a fragrant scent. The cherry blossoms measure up to 1.5” (3.5 cm) across.
Small weeping sakura cherry trees have lanceolate glossy green leaves with serrated edges and a pointed tip. The cherry leaves make up dense foliage on the umbrella-like tree canopy. In the fall, the ovate leaves turn to a golden yellow color with hints of orange and bronze. The pendulous branches provide plenty of year-long interest.
The bark on Japanese dwarf weeping cherry trees is shiny, smooth with a copper color. This feature gives the weeping dwarf cherry tree plenty of interest in winter months when the droopy branches are bare.
Japanese ornamental dwarf weeping cherry trees grow in USDA zones 4 through 9 and need full sun. These cherry trees grow to around 10 ft. (3 m).
Snow Fountain Dwarf Weeping Cherry Tree (Prunus serrulata ‘Snow Fountain’)
Snow Fountain weeping cherry tree has cascading branches with white flowers
The Snow Fountain weeping cherry tree is a dwarf cultivar with arching branches. The small cherry tree has a rounded canopy and cascading branches that reach the ground. In bloom, the pendulous branches are covered with dainty white fragrant flowers. The stunning look of this small cherry tree is just like a fountain of snow in spring.
Also called the Weeping Higan Cherry or ‘Snofozam,’ the slow-growing tree has dark green lance-shaped leaves with toothed margins. Before the leaves drop in the fall, they turn spectacular hues of golden-yellow and orange. The tiny black fruits on this dwarf cherry tree are inedible and can cause a bit of mess in gardens.
Snow Fountain dwarf weeping cherry trees only grow between 8 and 15 ft. (2.4 – 4.5 m) tall. With a spread of 6 to 8 ft. (1.8 – 2.4 m), these dwarf landscaping trees are ideal for compact gardens.
Grow Snow Fountain dwarf weeping cherry trees in USDA zones 5 through 8. Plant the ornamental specimen trees in full sun, loamy soil, and keep the soil moist throughout the summer.
Hiromi Dwarf Weeping Cherry Tree (Prunus jacquemontii ‘Hiromi’)
Hiromi is the smallest of the dwarf weeping cherry tree cultivars and grows between 3 and 6 ft. (1 – 2 m). The Hiromi cherry tree has a slender shrub-like growth, making it perfect for small gardens. These flowering dwarf cherry trees have a spread of between 2 and 4 ft. (0.6 – 1.2 m).
Hiromi dwarf flowering cherry trees have beautiful arching branches. When in bloom, the tree turns into a mass of pink flowers cascading down to the ground. The five-petaled pretty flowers appear before the leaves and give off a pleasant fragrance.
Like all cherry trees, the Hiromi dwarf cherry tree is a deciduous tree that drops its leaves in the fall. The lanceolate green leaves turn an outstanding yellow-gold color in the fall. Also, Hiromi dwarf weeping cherry trees produce small plum-like drupes that attract birds in the summer.
Grow Hiromi dwarf weeping cherry trees in USDA zones 4 through 8.
Where to Plant Dwarf Weeping Cherry Trees
Dwarf weeping cherry trees grow and blossom best when planted in full sun. So, choose the sunniest part of your garden to plant your tree. Ideally, the small flowering trees require between six and eight hours of sunshine daily. However, the ornamental weeping trees can also withstand some shade.
Here are some other factors to consider when planting your dwarf weeping cherry tree:
- Make sure there’s enough space between other trees to give good air circulation.
- The sunny location should also have well-draining, slightly acidic soil.
- Plenty of space between weeping trees on your property ensures you can admire the attractive drooping branches without pruning them.
How to Water Dwarf Weeping Cherry Trees
Dwarf weeping cherry trees need plenty of water in the spring and summer. It would be best if you watered the cherry tree enough so that the roots are always moist. However, it’s crucial to avoid the soil from becoming too soggy or damp. In summer, you’ll have to water the dwarf cherry tree two or three times a week.
A handy guide for watering dwarf weeping cherry trees is to let the top layer of soil partially dry between watering. Keeping the tree well-hydrated is the best way to enjoy the spectacular white or pink blossoms that appear every spring.
As a rule, don’t water weeping cherry trees during winter. From late fall until late winter, dwarf cherry trees enter a dormant period to recover from the previous season. Dwarf weeping cherry trees may fail to produce masses of blossoms the following spring if you water and fertilize the plant during winter.
The Best Soil for Dwarf Weeping Cherry Trees
Dwarf weeping cherry trees grow best in loamy, light soil that drains well. The garden soil should have plenty of compost to make it slightly acidic and provide nutrients for healthy tree growth. It’s vital to remember that dwarf cherry trees should grow in soil that’s not too soggy and not too dry.
Depending on the type of garden soil, you may have to amend it to get growing conditions precisely right.
For example, in sandy soil, you should use compost or rotted manure to grow cherry trees. This will help to retain enough moisture so that your dwarf cherry tree blossoms every spring.
However, if the soil has too much clay, you’ll need to improve drainage by mixing in perlite or compost. These soil amendments loosen dense soil and help water to drain freely but the soil still retains enough moisture.
How to Plant Dwarf Weeping Cherry Blossom
The best time to plant a dwarf cherry tree is in spring before buds or leaves appear. Not all dwarf cherry trees like being transplanted, and you may notice weak growth for the first two or three months.
To plant a dwarf weeping cherry tree, choose a sunny location in your front or backyard. Before planting, ensure the area has excellent drainage, and the soil is slightly acidic. If necessary, amend the earth so there’s a combination of loose, loamy soil and organic matter.
For planting your dwarf cherry tree, dig a hole that’s three times the size of the root ball, but not deeper. The tree’s roots spread out. Look for the soil line on the trunk. Then, plant your tree in the hole, ensuring the soil line is in line with the ground.
Another handy tip is to look for the graft bump. Dwarf weeping trees are produced by grafting the weeping part onto a rootstalk. The graft bump needs to be about 2” to 3” (5 – 7.5 cm) above the surface.
When you have the dwarf tree in place, fill in the rest of the hole with the appropriate soil type. Then press down firmly to remove air pockets, taking care not to damage the roots. Then, thoroughly water the ground—which will help remove any more air pockets. Then, put a layer of mulch around the root area to protect the roots and lock in moisture.
Young dwarf weeping cherry trees are top-heavy and will need staking for extra support. After the first year or two, you can remove the stake when the tree has developed its root system.
Pruning Dwarf Weeping Cherry Trees
Dwarf weeping cherry trees rarely need pruning. The only pruning they need is to stop their branches from touching the ground. If you decide to prune a small weeping cherry tree, do this only when the tree is established—after five years—and in early spring before any buds appear. Dwarf weeping cherry trees are cultivated to have short growth and a rounded crown with cascading branches.
Because dwarf weeping cherry trees are small and require little maintenance, they are ideal for small, compact gardens.
Growing Dwarf Weeping Cherry Trees
When growing dwarf weeping cherry trees for their spectacular blossoms, the three essential care factors are plenty of sunshine, well-draining soil, and keeping the ground moist. If you care for a weeping cherry blossom tree, you will enjoy their spring flowers, summer foliage, and fall colors.
Here are three other considerations when growing dwarf weeping cherry trees:
- Remove suckers. Check for any new growth—suckers—at the base of the trunk and remove these in spring. Also, suckers can grow at the graft scar on the rootstock. You should also remove any shoots that grow from the tree trunk.
- Pests. Aphids are the primary pests to affect dwarf weeping cherry trees. Signs of aphids on flowering trees include curling leaves and sap-covered stems. You can get rid of aphids by hosing the foliage with cold water or using insecticidal soap.
- Diseases. Fungal diseases can affect dwarf weeping cherry trees if there’s not enough air circulation or the ground is always wet. If you notice discolored leaves, prune the affected branches and dispose of them in the trash.
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