Prunus x yedoensis ‘Akebono’ (Yoshino Cherry)

A popular American flowering cherry, Prunus x yedoensis ‘Akebono’ (Yoshino Cherry) is a small deciduous tree boasting masses of large, soft pink, semi-double flowers along its bare branches in mid-spring. The slightly fragrant flowers gradually fade to white as they open fully, adding beauty to the incredibly showy canopy of blooms. The spring and summer foliage of glossy, dark green leaves turns golden yellow with orange highlights in the fall before shedding to the ground. As the leaves fall, they reveal the beautiful bark marked with prominent lenticels. ‘Akebono’ features an upright habit when young but spreads more with age, making it ideal for planting along walks and over patios. This is one of the best and most disease-resistant flowering cherries for the Pacific Northwest.

‘Akebono’ is a cultivar of Yoshino cherry, a hybrid dating back to the late 1800s and thought to be the result of hybridizing Prunus speciosa with the weeping form of Prunus subhirtella v. pendula. This fine ornamental tree grows moderately fast to become a respectable specimen.

• Grows and forms a symmetrical, rounded crown with moderately dense foliage. Can reach 25-35 ft. in height (7-10 m) and 25-40 ft. in spread (7-12 m).
• Performs best in full sun in moist, relatively fertile, well-drained soils. Tolerates sand and clay if drainage is adequate. Drought tolerant once established but appreciates occasional watering during dry weather.
• Perfect choice as a single specimen plant and for lawns.
• Prune in midsummer if silver leaf is a problem
• Watch for caterpillars, leaf-mining moths, bullfinches, silver leaf, bacterial canker, and blossom wilt.
• Propagate by budding or grafting, although softwood cuttings in early summer with bottom heat can be successful.