Yoshino Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis)

There are few trees that I know of that can rival the beauty of the Yoshino Cherry tree. I have a fondness for most plants in the prunus genus but the Yoshino is a special favorite of mine. It’s white blooms seem to glow in the sunlight and after they have fallen coat the ground like a luminescent snowfall. They are extremely easy to care for and are excellent here in Tennessee. When my two Bradford pears decide to split I’ll be sure to add more cherry trees, odds are they will be Yoshinos. They may not bloom at the same time, but the more natural tree form and the solid wood of the cherry makes it a good replacement for the Bradford pear tree.

The Yoshino Cherry is the same cherry tree that was given to the United States by Japan and has become a popular seasonal attraction in Washington D.C.. In fact yesterday marked the beginning of the National Cherry Festival. According to the Cherry Blossom Festival website peak blooming should be between April 1-4 for that area of the country. For more information about the Yoshino Cherry’s history you can look back at a post I wrote last year.

The first two pictures were of more established trees in my parent’s yard. The first was planted before they purchased the home and the second one was planted a few years ago. Yoshino Cherries grow fast but their branching patterns are much stronger than the more vase shaped ornamental pear trees I mentioned earlier. This little cherry tree is a new one I planted in our yard. It’s located just behind the rain garden.

As you peer closer at the blooms you can see why it is so well liked! Once the blooms disappear the foliage will take over to enjoy until fall.


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13 thoughts on “Yoshino Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis)”

  1. They are beautiful Dave! I will need to replant cherries in my yard. All four of our new ones were attacked by a boring pest and killed withing weeks of being put in the ground. Next time I will be smarter.
    -Heather

  2. These are beautiful trees Dave. They have a staggered row of these planted in front of the Cannon Enterprises in my area. Every spring I take a ride over there to marvel at their beauty!

  3. I love it too. I have one and am getting another. Ditto on everything you said. Yours look great. Mine( at the new house) is still little but at any size they bloom their little hearts out.

  4. Sherry,

    This first picture is probably a 15 year old tree, maybe a bit older. It was planted sometime before my parent's moved into their home. The second tree they planted and is probably 6-7 years old. The last photo is one I planted in our yard and has doubled in size in a year! They are fairly fast growing trees if they like the location. The one in our yard gets a significant amount of moisture in a well drained area which is ideal. How fast growing of a tree are you looking for?

  5. The house I own had one in the back yard when I bought it 8 years ago. It was only 10' then, now it's close to 30'. It's in bloom right now and it's spectacular to say the least. Everyone comments on it's beauty. I have never loved a tree more. Also, it brings in swallow tail butterflys in the summer.

    • If you have at least 15 feet from any hard paved surfaces the tree will probably do fine. It will have some low hanging branches that will need pruned from time to time. A better option might be the Okame cherry tree which is much smaller in size and blooms pinkish-red in the early spring.

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