Flowering cherries
While the briefness of
their glory has to be acknowledged,
cherries really are the hardy
spring-flowering trees for temperate
climate gardens. I can think of no
others, apart from their close Prunus
relatives and some of the magnolias that
even come close to rivalling flowering
cherries for sheer weight of bloom and
vibrance of colour.
The genus Prunus, to
which the cherries, plums, almonds,
apricots and peaches belong, includes
around 430 species spread over much of
the northern temperate regions and has a
toehold in South America. Although
including a few evergreen species, such
as the well-known cherry laurel (Prunus
laurocerasus), the genus is mainly
deciduous and generally hardy to the
frosts likely to occur in most New
Zealand gardens.
The genus Prunus is
widely recognised as being divided into 5
or 6 subgenera, though some botanists
prefer to recognise these as distinct
genera. The subgenus cerasus is the one
to which the cherries belong. This group
includes a wide variety of species, many
of which are not highly ornamental. The
species which are of most interest to
gardeners are the Chinese and Japanese
cherries, not only because they tend to
be the most attractive, but also because
they tend to be reasonably compact, often
have attractive autumn foliage as well as
spring flowers and because centuries of
development in oriental gardens have
produced countless beautiful cultivars.
The Japanese recognise
two main groups of flowering cherries:
the mountain cherries or yamazakura and
the temple or garden cherries, the
satozakura. The mountain cherries, which
tend to have simple flowers, are largely
derived from the original Mountain Cherry
(Prunus serrulata var. spontanea), Prunus
subhirtella and Prunus incisa. They are
mainly cultivated for their
early-blooming habit, which is just as
well because their rather delicate
display would be overwhelmed by the
flamboyance of the garden cherries.
The garden cherries are
the result of much hybridisation, mostly
unrecorded, so we can't be exactly sure
of their origins. Prunus serrulata (in
its lowland form) and Prunus subhirtella
also feature largely in their background.
The other major influences are Prunus
sargentii, Prunus speciosa, Prunus
apetala and possibly the widespread Bird
Cherries (Prunus avium and Prunus padus).
The result of these old hybrids and
modern developments is the wealth of
forms that burst into bloom in our
gardens every spring.
Regretfully, that
complex parentage and those centuries of
development and countless cultivars
combined with Western misunderstandings
of Japanese names and multiple
introductions of the same plants under
different names has led to considerable
confusion with the names of flowering
cherries.
Most of the popular
garden plants are lumped together under
three general headings:
1. Prunus subhirtella
cultivars and hybrids;
2. Sato-zakura hybrids;
3. Hybrids no longer
listed under parent species, being
instead regarded as just to difficult to
classify in that way.
But however you view
them, flowering cherries have so much to
offer that a little confusion over naming
and identification shouldn't stand in the
way of your including them in your
garden. And now that many of them are
available as container-grown plants that
can be bought in flower, it's really just
a matter of choosing the flowers you
like.
Nevertheless, it's nice
to know exactly which plant you're
dealing with, so that you can be sure of
its performance and size. While most of
the larger nurseries and garden centres
take care to supply plants that are true
to type, make sure on first flowering
that your cherries match their label
descriptions. Misidentification, or
perhaps misrepresentation, is common.
Plants
Prunus subhirtella
cultivars and hybrids
Although the flowers of
Prunus subhirtella are usually small and
fairly simple, they appear from early
winter well into spring, depending on the
cultivar. Not only that, the cultivars
themselves are long-flowering, often
being in bloom for three weeks to a
month. There are many cultivars, but most
are similar to, or forms of the two main
types listed below.
'Autumnalis' (
'Jugatsu Sakura')
This is the most
reliable winter-flowering form. It often
starts to bloom in late April to early
May and can carry flowers right through
until mid September. It seldom produces a
massive burst of bloom, rather sporadic
clusters of flowers. This is just as well
because the flowers are damaged by heavy
frosts. The flowers of 'Autumnalis' are
white to pale pink opening from pink
buds; those of 'Autumnalis Rosea' are the
same but with a deep pink centre.
'Pendula' ('Ito
Sakura')
Prunus autumnalis tends
to have weeping branches and 'Pendula' is
a cultivar that emphasises this feature.
Its flowers are usually pale pink and
open in late winter to early spring.
'Falling Snow' is a cultivar with pure
white flowers, while those of 'Rosea' are
deep pink.
Sato-zakura hybrids
'Fugenzo' (
'Shirofugen' )
'Fugenzo' was one of
the first, if not the first, Japanese
cherry to be grown in European gardens.
It 's origins can be traced back to at
least the 15th century. Its
flowers are white to very pale pink,
opening from pink buds, and when fully
open how two conspicuous green leaf-like
pistils in the centre of the flower.
'Taihaku'
'Taihaku' , also known
as the great white cherry, has white
flowers up to 5cm across. It grows to at
least 8m tall with a wider spread and its
flowers open at the same time as its
bronze foliage expands, making a pleasant
contrast. Thought to have been lost to
cultivation, this cultivar was identified
in Sussex garden from an old Japanese
print.
'Ukon'
Although 'Ukon' mean
yellowish, this cultivar has very
distinctive pale green flowers and is one
of the few unmistakable cherries. Its
foliage develops purplish tones in
autumn. The unusual flower colour
contrasts well with the likes of
'Sekiyama'.
'Amanogawa' ('Erecta')
'Amanogawa' grows to
around 6m tall, but only around 1.5m
wide, and has pale pink single flowers
with a freesia-like scent. It blooms in
mid-spring and in autumn the foliage
develops striking yellow and red tones.
'Shogetsu'
('Shugetsu', 'Shimidsu-zakura')
'Shogetsu' flowers late
and produces pendant clusters of white,
double flowers that open from pink buds.
The flower clusters are up to 15cm long,
which makes a tree in full bloom an
arresting sight, especially considering
that 'Shogetsu' is not a large tree and
that its weeping habit means it can be
covered in bloom right down to the
ground.
'Sekiyama' ('Kanzan')
Certainly among the
most popular cherries and most often sold
under the name 'Kanzan', 'Sekiyama' has a
relatively narrow, upright growth habit
when young but eventually develops into a
spreading 12m tall tree. Its flowers,
which are pink and very fully double, are
carried in pendulous clusters of five
blooms. They open from reddish-pink buds.
The foliage has a slight red tint.
'Ariake' ('Dawn',
'Candida')
This cultivar grows to
about 6m tall and flowers in spring as
the foliage develops. The young leaves
are a deep bronze shade that contrasts
well with white to very pale pink
flowers.
'Kiku-shidare'
('Shidare Sakura')
'Kiku-shidare' is
similar in flower to 'Sekiyama', but it
has a weeping growth habit. It is a small
tree and is often smothered in bloom from
the topmost branches down to near ground
level. The flowers can each have up to 50
petals.
'Pink Perfection'
'Pink Perfection' was
introduced in 1935 by the famous English
nursery Waterer Sons and Crisp. It
is a probable 'Sekiyama' × 'Shogetsu'
hybrid and has flowers that show
characteristics of both parents; the
clustered blooms of 'Shogetsu' and the
pink of 'Sekiyama'. The flowers are very
fully double and the young foliage is
coppery.
'Kofugen'
'Kofugen' has graceful
semi-weeping branches and a fairly
compact growth habit. Its flowers are not
really single but semi-double, though the
two whorls of petals are flat rather than
ruffled, so the effect is not that easy
to see.
'Shirotae' ('Mt.
Fuji')
This beautiful tree has
a spreading growth habit that in the best
specimens shows distinctly tiered
branches. Its flowers, which are white
and semi-double on mature plants, start
to open before the foliage expands. They
are pleasantly scented.
'Takasago'
Although possibly a
Prunus × sieboldii cultivar, 'Takasago'
is now more widely listed under the
satozakura cherries. It bears clusters of
semi-double pink flowers with bronze-red
new foliage.
'Ojochin' ('Senriko')
This tree, rather squat
when young, but eventually 7m tall bears
single white flowers in such profusion as
to give the impression of double blooms.
Opening from pink buds, the flowers are
up to 5cm in diameter and among the later
to bloom. 'Ojochin' means large lantern,
which aptly describes the shape of the
flowers.
Other hybrids, species
and their cultivars
'Accolade'
One of the most popular
of all garden cherries, 'Accolade' is a
Prunus sargentii × Prunus subhirtella
hybrid that develops into a flat-topped
small tree. In spring it is smothered in
pendulous clusters of large, bright pink,
semi-double flowers.
Yoshino cherry (Prunus
× yedoensis)
Well-known as an avenue
tree, this Prunus subhirtella × Prunus
speciosa hybrid is smothered in white to
very pale pink blooms in spring before or
as the new leaves develop. When the
flowers are spent they form drifts of
fallen petals around the base of the
tree. There are several cultivars, such
as the pink-flowered 'Akebono', the pale
pink 'Awanui' and a weeping form
('Shidare Yoshino' or 'Pendula').
Taiwan cherry (Prunus
campanulata)
The Taiwan cherry is
valued for its early-flowering habit and
fiery autumn foliage. The flowers, which
are usually a vivid deep pink, are heavy
with nectar and very popular with birds.
Taiwan cherry is rather frost tender,
though once established it grows well in
most coastal areas.
'Okame'
Introduced in 1947 by
the British authority Collingwood Ingram,
'Okame' is a hybrid between the Taiwan
cherry and the Fuji cherry (Prunus
incisa). It is usually quite hardy,
though this appears to be variable, and
it flowers heavily in early spring. The
blooms open in late winter to early
spring before the foliage develops and
are a bright soft pink. 'Pink Cloud' is a
similar though more compact cherry raised
by Felix Jury.
Himalayan hill cherry
(Prunus cerasoides)
This species is rather
frost tender, especially when young, but
is a beautiful tree where it grows well.
Not only does it produce pink flowers in
winter, when little else is in bloom, it
has attractive banded bark and the
unusual habit of shedding its foliage in
late summer then producing new leaves
before winter. The variety rubea has
deeper pink flowers in spring.
Cyclamen cherry
(Prunus cyclamina)
Flowering on bare stems
in early spring, the cyclamen cherry is a
hardy small to medium-sized tree from
central China. The flowers, which are
rose pink, are followed by bronze new
growth that retains its colour for some
weeks before greening. The leaves fall
late in autumn and often colour well.
Sargent's cherry
(Prunus sargentii)
This large and very
hardy Japanese species is probably best
known as one of the parents of the very
popular hybrid 'Accolade'. It can grow to
as much as 18m tall and will withstand at
least -25°C. Its 3 to 4cm wide,
bright pink flowers are complemented by
red-brown bark.
Kurile cherry (Prunus
nipponica var. kurilensis)
Usually little more
than a large shrub, this Japanese cherry
can reach 6m tall under ideal conditions.
The flowers, which are soft pink and open
from early spring, are backed by red
sepals that hang on for a while after the
flowers have fallen, thus prolonging the
spring colour.
Prunus × sieboldii
This hybrid has given
rise to several popular cultivars. The
original cross is a slow-growing small
tree with semi-double 3 to 4.5cm wide
flowers in spring. The new stems are
often very glossy.
Cultivation
Flowering cherries are
largely undemanding plants that thrive in
almost any well-drained soil. For the
best display of flowers they need to see
at least half-day sun and if sheltered
from the wind, the blooms and the autumn
foliage will last far longer than if
exposed to the full blast of the
elements.
Cherries are often seen
growing as lawn specimens, but they can
be planted in shrubberies, borders or
small groves. By choosing a selection
that flowers in succession, it's possible
to have bloom from mid-winter to
early summer.
Cherries are natural
companions for azaleas and rhododendrons,
and can be used to beautiful effect as
shade trees for the smaller varieties of
these or to shelter a collection of
woodland perennials such as primroses and
hostas. Japanese maples also blend well
with cherries and they can combine to
make a brilliant display of autumn
foliage.
Pruning
Flowering cherries
seldom need major pruning once
established. Young trees can be lightly
trimmed to develop a pleasing shape and
mature plant may be kept compact by
tipping the branches, otherwise just
remove any vigorous water shoots and
suckers that sprout from the rootstock.
Make sure that any pruning is done in
summer to prevent infecting the trees
with silver leaf fungus (Chondrostereum
purpureum). Although this disease is
present throughout the year, cherries are
most resistant to it in summer.
Pests and diseases
Apart from the already
mentioned silver leaf, there isn't really
very much that goes wrong with flowering
cherries that can't be tolerated. Sawfly
larvae (peach or pear slug) sometimes
cause damage to the foliage, and older
plants sometimes suffer from dieback in
their older branches, but these are
seldom serious problems. The dieback is
sometimes the result of Armillaria, so it
may be advisable to insert some of the
now readily available Trichoderma dowels
into the trunks of any older cherries to
prevent the problem developing.
Propagation
Virtually all of the
fancier flowering cherries sold for
garden use are budded or grafted, usually
onto Prunus avium stocks. Although few
home gardeners attempt them, these
processes are not difficult. Budding
especially, is straightforward and is
carried out in exactly the same way as
budding roses.
Species, including the
standard Prunus avium stock, can be
raised from seed or from softwood
cuttings taken in spring or early summer.
The seed should be removed from the fruit
by soaking for few days until all the
flesh has fallen away. It is usually best
to simulate winter conditions by chilling
the seed for a few weeks before sowing.
Graft height
When buying flowering
cherries you may be faced with a choice
of graft height. Which you choose largely
depends on the cultivar and the type of
growth best suited to your garden. With
weeping cherries choose the highest graft
possible (usually 8ft [2.4m]), to allow
the maximum length of flowering branch.
Upright cultivars like 'Sekiyama' are
best grafted near ground level so that
their erect habit has a chance to develop
properly, while graft height in not that
important with bushier trees.
The important thing to
remember, particularly with high grafted
plants, is that the main stem will not
gain much height from the grafting point.
The stems of a weeping cultivar may grow
up before arching down, thus adding some
height, but if you choose too low a graft
that won' t make much difference.
Low-grafted weeping cherries are,
however, ideal for large tubs where they
can be kept trimmed to shrub-like
proportions.
I am a garden book author and
horticultural photographer based in
Christchurch, New Zealand. I run a stock
photo library called Country, Farm and
Garden (http://www.cfgphoto.com).
This article may be re-published provided
this information is published with it and
is clearly visible.
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