Prunus ‘Shogetsu’ (Japanese Flowering Cherry)

One of the finest Japanese cherries, award-winning Prunus ‘Shogetsu’ is a broad-spreading small deciduous tree with charming double flowers held in showy, hanging clusters of 3-6 blooms that can be up to 6 in. long! (15 cm). Providing a breathtaking display in late spring to early summer, the pretty blossoms are large, 2 in. across (5 cm). Light pink in bud, they open to pure white and resemble ballerina’s petticoats with their frilled 22-25 petals, nicely arranged around an open heart. The foliage of fresh green young leaves turns red and orange shades in the fall.

‘Shogetsu’ means ‘Moonlight on the pine tree’ in Japanese and is also known as the Blushing Bride Flowering Cherry Tree.

• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
• Grows up with a wide spreading growth habit to 15-20 ft. in height (4-6 m) and 15-25 ft. wide (4-8 m).
• Performs best in full sun in moist, relatively fertile, well-drained soils.
• Perfect choice as single specimen plants, and 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.