What soil does Higan cherry grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous.

Is Higan cherry hardy?

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Higan cherry be planted?

Plant it at least 5.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 1.5 m from paving.

When does Higan cherry flower?

Flowering: November–April, pink, white.

How much water does Higan cherry need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Higan cherry

Prunus × subhirtella

Higan cherry (Prunus × subhirtella) is a small tree. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Toxic to dogs and cats.

Illustration of Higan cherry — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A fine-twigged Japanese flowering cherry with small blossoms that is almost always sold as a cultivar. 'Autumnalis' and the pink 'Autumnalis Rosea' are special because they open a few pale pink, semi-double flowers again and again in mild spells from November to April (they pause in frost, and the main flush comes in early spring), whereas the weeping 'Pendula', 'Pendula Rubra' and the double forms flower only in March and April, before the leaves. The weeping forms are grafted on a stem, so they hardly gain height and only the crown gets wider. Plant it in a sunny, sheltered spot in well-drained soil that does not dry out in summer, and prune only after flowering, in dry weather.

Watch out for

The main disease of flowering cherries in Central Europe is Monilia blossom and twig blight: in a wet spring the flowers turn brown and the shoot tips die back, and these must be cut back to healthy wood. Aphids, shot hole and gumming also occur. Hard frost kills the open winter flowers and buds of 'Autumnalis' (the tree produces new ones later), and it flowers best in a mild, sheltered position. The rootstock of grafted trees can throw suckers, which should be removed at the base. It is a fairly short-lived tree.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 4 m × 3 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D November–April, pink, white

All details

Group	Small tree
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	4 m × 3 m
Ultimate size	5–10 m × 4.5–9 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	November–April, pink, white
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	yes
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 5.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 1.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	500 cm
For dogs	Toxic
For cats	Toxic
For children	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made

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