The Ornamental Cherry Tree
 (Read 500+ times)
By Glory Lennon
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When it comes to trees with glorious spring time blooming shows there can be no argument, the Ornamental Cherry tree cannot be beat. These lovely deciduous trees encompassed within the genus Prunus, which also include the plum, peach, apricot and nectarine, vary in shape and size and even in the color of bud and blossom alike. They are a must for any landscape with abundant sun, nicely cultivated, fertile and well-draining soil and where there are people enough to admire it. Which one to choose for your particular garden depends entirely on what type of Ornamental Cherry tree you like. With that in mind let us go over a few of the most wanted, best known and most readily available Ornamental Cherry trees for the home gardener.
Yoshino Flowering Cherry (P. yedoensis)
If you’ve ever made the pilgrimage to Washington D.C. for the Cherry Blossom Festival you’ve seen these fragrant beauties abloom as far as the eye can see. The original three thousand Cherry trees given to the United States by Japan almost one hundred years ago were almost all Yoshino. The flower buds start off medium to light pink and open to a very pale pink to bright white. Hardy in zones 5-8 and growing 40-50 feet high the Yoshino has a rounded form and branching 25-40 feet wide. The foliage is dark green and the red-tinged bark is glossy. It makes a spectacular specimen for front yard planting and also as a sidewalk tree as the roots are rarely the protruding, destructive type. It also bears small “cherries” that drive the birds wild with glee.
Snow Fountains weeping cherry (P.snofozam)
Snow Fountains Weeping cherry is a man-made creation. It is a P. Subhirtella “Pendula”grafted to a 4-5 foot understock. The branches cascade down in fountain form often touching the ground. This form a rather narrow tree. Blossoms grow all along the branches in a soft white and produce bright red but small “cherries” for songbirds and small mammals. Wonderful specimen plant for the front lawn and for planting near the patio and small enough at 8-15 feet high and 6-12 wide to be the focal point in a large planting bed. Hardy in zones 5-8.
Purple Leaf Sand Cherry (P.cistena)
There is some confusion amongst persnickety gardeners and even growers whether this should be called a cherry or a plum and there’s even debate about whether to call it a shrub or a tree. But as cherry and plum trees are both of the Prunus genus it truly doesn’t matter what you call the Purple Leaf Sand Cherry. And as almost any tree can be a shrub and vise-versa with proper training that argument can be quickly hushed as well. Despite all this it is still the most fabulous tree in spring time. The flowers come out in a rosy to palest pink color contrasting perfectly with the reddish purple foliage. This amazing leaf color makes the Purple Leaf Sand Cherry look wonderfully unique and quite a standout long after the flowers drop. Super hardy in USDA zones 3-7 and as it grows only 7-10 feet tall and 6-8 wide this tree can reside anywhere. The Purple Leaf Sand Cherry can easily be planted beside a patio, along sidewalks, under power lines and even within a large flower bed without overwhelming the spot. Perfect little tree for your smaller yards. Birds love the purple-black berries but if you can manage to get to them first you can use them for jellies, jams and pies.
Weeping Flowering Cherry (P. subhirtella “Rosea”)
Growing rather quickly to 30-40 feet high with a 15-25 foot spread this tree has every charm imaginable in an ornamental plant. The pale pink flowers cover every pendulous branch, some of which sweep the ground most attractively making a perfect hiding spot underneath. Of course these branches can be trimmed to whatever height the gardener prefers and these trimmings can then be enjoyed indoors for forcing and for long lasting spring time arrangements. The bark is a smooth, mahogany color and the foliage a bright green turning yellow for the autumn show. Truly a spectacular tree even in the winter landscape where its beautiful form can be truly appreciated.
“Kwanzan” Flowering Cherry (P. Serrulata “Kwanzan”)
A vase shaped tree growing 30-40 both high and wide and hardy in UDSA zone 5-9, the “Kwanzan” is just about the most popular and readily available of the double flowering cherries. The canopy has a tendency to widen as it matures but unfortunately it is a rather short lived tree, only surviving15-25 years. But it is fantastic while it lasts with a lovely show blooming approximately two weeks after the Yoshino Cherry. Early spring foliage is a reddish copper color which becomes a dark green for summer and again changes in autumn to a yellow-orange-bronze color. Another drawback to this cultivar is the lack of fruit for attracting birds but you can’t have it all!
These are just a few of the best ornamental Cherry trees for the home garden but that’s just opinion. You’ll find everybody and their cousin coming up with their own list as there are dozens and dozens from which to chose. But you cannot go wrong with any of them. That is the beauty of the Ornamental Cherry tree. They all have something to offer for just about any landscape and garden plan. Of course you could have one each of all the varieties mentioned here and you’d be the envy of the neighborhood for sure and certain. Who wouldn’t like that?
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Author Bio Box: Glory Lennon
 Short Stories @ Helium: http://www.helium.com/users/32782/show_articles
www.maximumyield.com
How to create your own backyard bird sanctuary Zone: http://www.helium.com/zone/2884-how-to-create-your-own-backyard-bird-sanctuary
Ornamental Grass Zone: http://www.helium.com/zone/2775-ornamental-grasses
Novelettes- in-progress @ Glory’s Stories: http://www.myspace.com/glorygarden
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