Cherry Blossoms: 6 Flowering Trees to Grow at Home - Gardenista
Photography by Alison Engstrom.
Cherry blossoms season is underway, inspiring iPhone-wielding gawkers to head to parks and botanical gardens to catch sight of the billowy pink blossoms.
But these show-stopping specimen trees thrive in the home garden as well, so long as they’re kept safe from frost and grown in full sun and well-draining soil.
The Classic: Prunus ‘Kanzan’
‘Kanzan,’ with its bubblegum-pink blooms, is perhaps the most commonly thought of variety when it comes to cherry blossoms.
The ‘Kanzan’ variety, formerly known as ‘Sekiyama,’ is “considered by many to be the most showy ornamental cherry,” according to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s guide.
A feminine ‘Kanzan’ bloom. Beware: It can grow large—up to 30 feet tall.
Most Photogenic: Prunus serrulata ‘Horinji’
The wide-spreading ‘Horinji’ tree. If you really want to impress neighbors and guests, Prunus serrulata ‘Horinji’ is the flowering cherry tree for you.
The cloud-like flowers are almost lighter than air.
Lovely ‘Shogetsu’ looks at home in a tucked-away grotto.
The Ballet Dancer: Prunus serrulata ‘Shogetsu’
For a quiet and graceful tree that adds calm to the garden, consider Prunus serrulata ‘Shogetsu.’ It’s often compared to ballerinas, and no wonder: Its pink-tinged blooms resemble tutus, and its long, delicate boughs are like a dancer’s lithe limbs.
‘Shogetsu’ flowers turn from a delicate pink to white as they open.
The Canopy: Prunus serrulata ‘Kuramayama’
The round, multi-petaled pink and white flowers of Prunus serrulata ‘Kuramayama.’.
Japanese Simplicity: Prunus ‘Taoyame’
‘Taoyame’ has simple, small white flowers and dark-colored leaves. Prunus ‘Taoyame’ may not be as ostentatious as other flowering cherry trees, but in Japan, it’s the simpler, more delicate cherry blossoms that are favored.
Pink Lanterns: Prunus serrulata ‘Ojochin’
Classic beauty: the pink blooms of the Prunus serrulata ‘Ojochin’ tree.
Deep pink buds open into softer pink blossoms. See also: The Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s guide to Flowering Cherry Trees for Your Own Garden.