Yoshino Cherry
Prunus x yedoensis · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Hardwood
Plant Family
Rosaceae
Tree Category
Ornamental, Flowering Tree, Street Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Most commonly 'Yoshino'; it is a hybrid between Prunus speciosa and Prunus itosakura.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 8; sensitive to extreme cold or heat outside this range.
About This Tree
A graceful, fast-growing ornamental tree with a rounded or vase-shaped habit and a spreading crown. It is world-renowned for its profuse early spring display of fragrant white-to-pink flowers that appear before the leaves.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate leaves; elliptical to ovate shape; 2 to 5 inches long; dark green in summer; doubly serrate margins; turn yellow or bronze-red in fall.
Bark Characteristics
Greyish-brown bark, relatively smooth when young with prominent horizontal lenticels (slits); becomes more plate-like and slightly furrowed with age.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Japan; widely adapted and common throughout the temperate United States, especially famous in Washington D.C.
Growing Season
Leafs out in mid-spring after blooming; flowers in early spring (March-April); fruits in summer; enters dormancy in late autumn with yellow/bronze fall color.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun for best flowering; prefers moist, well-drained, acidic to neutral soils; moderate drought tolerance once established.
Mature Size
Reaches a height of 30-40 feet with a similar spread of 30-40 feet; moderate to fast growth rate; typical lifespan of 20-40 years.
Special Characteristics
Known for its spectacular 'sakura' floral display; reasonably pollution tolerant for urban use; prized for aesthetic value rather than timber or fruit.
Wildlife & Ecology
Flowers provide early nectar for bees and butterflies; provides small black drupes (bitter to humans) that serve as food for migratory birds; provides nesting cover.