Prunus ‘Kiku-Shidare-Zakura’ (Japanese Flowering Cherry)

A favorite of many gardens, Prunus ‘Kiku-Shidare-Zakura’ is a small deciduous tree with gracefully arching branches smothered with charming, fully double, rich pink flowers in mid to late spring. The abundant blossoms, 1.5 in. across (3.5 cm), are packed with up to 125 elliptic petals (!), giving them the look of a powder puff. They create a terrific floral display in clusters of 3-5 blossoms along the bare pendulous branches. As they emerge, the bronze, serrate leaves mature to bright green in summer, forming a dense canopy casting shade below. As the leaves fall, they reveal the trunk’s shiny, peeling, coppery bark, adding winter interest to the landscape. A miniature chrysanthemum-flowered variety of cherry tree that is splendid as a lawn specimen.

‘Kiku-shidare-sakura’ means ‘Weeping Chrysanthemum Cherry’ in Japanese. This old Japanese cultivar has been known since the end of the 19th century.

• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
• Typically reaches 10-15 ft. in height and spread (3-5 m).
• Performs best in full sun or light shade in moist, fertile, well-drained soils.
• Perfect choice as single specimen plants and lawns.
• Susceptible to many insect and disease pests.
• Prune in midsummer if silver leaf is an issue.
• Propagate by chip budding or grafting, although softwood cuttings in early summer with bottom heat can be successful