Japanese flowering cherry vs Saucer magnolia

Japanese flowering cherry and Saucer magnolia are often considered for the same spot in the garden (specimen, flowers). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Japanese flowering cherry

Prunus serrulata 4 m × 3 m after 10 years

A small ornamental tree grown for its spring blossom: in April and May it is smothered for a week or two in pink or white flowers, single or double…

Small tree

Full sun

Part shade

from about CZK 1,100

Saucer magnolia

Magnolia × soulangeana 4.5 m × 4 m after 10 years

A broad, multi-stemmed large shrub or small tree that covers itself in huge, lightly scented goblet flowers, pink or purplish outside and white…

Small tree

Full sun

Part shade

from about CZK 300

Key differences

Saucer magnolia grows larger: 4.5 m × 4 m after ten years, against 4 m × 3 m for Japanese flowering cherry (an estimate: sources differ).
Saucer magnolia is hardier: down to -29 °C, against -23 °C for Japanese flowering cherry.
Japanese flowering cherry tolerates drought better than Saucer magnolia.
Japanese flowering cherry also takes chalky soil, Saucer magnolia prefers acidic soil and struggles on chalk.
Saucer magnolia also takes heavy clay, Japanese flowering cherry needs a loose, free-draining soil.
Japanese flowering cherry is cheaper: about CZK 1,400 at the same size (100–150 cm), against about CZK 1,900 for Saucer magnolia.

Which one to choose?

Japanese flowering cherry is the better choice if space is tight, you cannot water regularly, the soil is chalky or price matters.

Saucer magnolia is the better choice if the garden is cold or a frost pocket or the soil is heavy clay.

Watch out for

Japanese flowering cherry

A short-lived tree that often declines after 15 to 25 years. In Central Europe the main trouble is blossom wilt and shoot dieback (Monilia): in wet springs the flowers brown and stay on the tree and shoot tips die, so cut back to healthy wood. Bacterial canker with gumming, shot hole and the cherry blackfly that curls the shoot tips are also common. Infections enter through wounds, so prune only when you must, and then in dry summer weather. The shallow roots can surface in lawns and in time lift nearby paving, so do not plant it right beside a path or terrace. It is grafted: remove any shoots that come from the rootstock (at the base, or from the stem of weeping forms) cleanly at their origin. The thin bark is easily damaged, so protect it from the strimmer.

Saucer magnolia

Late spring frosts regularly brown the early flowers and swelling buds, so in Central Europe a display is lost every few years; a sheltered site and a late-flowering cultivar reduce the risk. On limy, alkaline soil the leaves turn yellow (iron chlorosis), and in hot, dry summers they scorch without watering. Its fleshy, shallow roots resent transplanting and digging near the trunk. Scale insects, leaf spot and powdery mildew occur.

The data side by side

Feature	Japanese flowering cherry	Saucer magnolia
Group	Small tree	Small tree
Size after 10 years	4 m × 3 m (uncertain)	4.5 m × 4 m (uncertain)
Ultimate size	3–10 m × 1–7.6 m (uncertain)	4–10 m × 4.5–9 m
Growth rate	Medium	Medium
Light	Full sun, Part shade	Full sun, Part shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Calcareous, Acidic	Average garden soil, Acidic, Clay
Hardiness	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	no data	Medium (uncertain)
Foliage	Deciduous	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, pink, white	March–May, pink, white, purple
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium	Low
Maintenance	Medium	Low
Planting distance	500 cm	500 cm
For dogs	Toxic	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Toxic	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Mildly toxic (uncertain)	Non-toxic
Typical price	about CZK 1,400 (100–150 cm)	about CZK 1,900 (100–150 cm)

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 17, 2026

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