What soil does Japanese flowering cherry grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, calcareous, acidic.

Is Japanese flowering cherry hardy?

Hardy down to -23 °C (USDA zone 6, RHS H7). In the colder parts of the country (Podlaskie Voivodeship) it may not survive winter without protection.

How far from the house should Japanese flowering cherry be planted?

Plant it at least 5.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 2.5 m from paving.

When does Japanese flowering cherry flower?

Flowering: April–May, pink, white.

How much water does Japanese flowering cherry need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Japanese flowering cherry

Prunus serrulata

Japanese flowering cherry (Prunus serrulata) is a small tree. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -23 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Toxic to dogs and cats.

Illustration of Japanese flowering 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 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 depending on the cultivar, and the leaves turn orange-bronze in autumn. Cultivars differ mainly in shape: there are wide vase-shaped crowns, narrow columns (Amanogawa, barely 1 to 1.5 m wide), top-grafted weeping forms (Kiku-shidare-zakura) and purple-leaved ones (Royal Burgundy), so choose by the final crown width your spot allows. It wants a sunny, airy place and well-drained soil and does not tolerate waterlogging. It sets little or no fruit and is not a long-lived tree.

Watch out for

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.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 4 m × 3 m
Hardiness: down to -23 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D April–May, pink, white

All details

Group	Small tree
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	4 m × 3 m
Ultimate size	3–10 m × 1–7.6 m
Hardiness	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Calcareous, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, pink, white
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Medium
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 5.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 2.5 m
Litter	Leaves
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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