Cherry, Kwanzan

Prunus serrulata 'Kanzan'

Height: 25-30ft
Spread: 25-30ft
Zone: 5-9
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Growth Rate: Moderate
Bloom Time/Color: April; pink
Fall Color: Yellow/orange
Uses: Specimen, ornamental, street tree
Maintenance: High
Tree Shape: Round, vase
Other: Attractive bark, fruitless

Japanese flowering cherries are characterized by their attractive bronzy-red bark and pink flowers that appear before the foliage in spring. Kwanzan cherry typically has very profuse, dark pink flowers and they start appearing around April. Leaves come on shortly after and emerge bronze-red before changing to dark green. The deciduous serrated leaves eventually turn yellow-orange in autumn. Flowering cherries prefer moist, well-drained fertile soils in full sun to part shade. Trees may be short lived in Northern climates. Kwanzan cherries have become very popular landscaping trees in part due to the donation from Japan to Washington D.C. in 1912.