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Japanese Flowering Cherry

Prunus serrulata 'Kanzan'

Ornamental treeDeciduousFrost HardyToxic

The Japanese flowering cherry 'Kanzan' (syn. 'Kwanzan', 'Sekiyama') is the most widely planted ornamental cherry, a small tree with a broad funnel- to vase-shaped crown. It bears dense clusters of large, double, deep pink flowers in late April to early May together with bronze young leaves, and colours yellow to orange in autumn.

Overview

Height7–10 m
Crown diameter5–8 m
Root systemNot reliably documented
ShadeMedium shade
SunFull Sun
WaterMedium
HardinessUSDA zones 5–8

Seasons

Flowering (Central Europe)Apr, May

Planting time for bare-root trees. Container trees can be planted whenever the soil is workable.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

None

Bad Companions

None

Only relations with a documented cause are listed.

Toxicity

SeverityMildly toxic
Toxic toHumans, Dogs, Cats

Leaves, stems and seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides, particularly toxic when wilting (ASPCA lists Prunus spp. as toxic to dogs, cats and horses). NC State rates human poison severity as low; 'Kanzan' rarely sets fruit.

Planting Tips

LocationFull sun to partial shade; keep clearance under the spreading crown, which becomes overhanging with age.
SoilWell-drained loam; does not tolerate wet or waterlogged soils. Tolerates partly paved sites.
WateringAvoid waterlogging; water young trees in dry spells.
FertilizingNo species-specific fertiliser requirement documented in the sources used.

Care Tip: Grown for its spring blossom; the species is susceptible to several diseases, so keep the tree vigorous and remove dead or diseased wood.

Sources