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A Great Tree: Fragrant Yoshino Cherry

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | April 9, 2010 14 Comments

Last updated on December 2nd, 2011


IF YOU DON’T ALREADY HAVE A YOSHINO CHERRY TREE IN YOUR GARDEN, by all means acquire one. This Prunus x yedoensis is the tree of Washington, D.C. fame, and the subject of a wildly-popular festival in Macon, Georgia. But it cheerfully thrives in my cold, zone 5-b garden in upstate New York, too. Well before the first crabapples bloom, the Yoshino adorns itself in luxurious, white-to-pink, almond-scented blossoms. Here are the keys to success with this deciduous tree of Japanese origin:

For optimum health, the Yoshino has two requests: full sun and well-draining soil. My tree thrives on a sunny, south-facing slope in the Serpentine Garden. Make the planting hole twice the size of the root ball, but no deeper. A wide hole, of course, permits roots to establish themselves very quickly. Back-fill the gap between hole and roots. Then build a 4-inch berm of soil around the tree, as a reservoir for water. Water weekly during the first spring and summer. Thereafter, deep watering will only be required during times of prolonged drought. Remove the berm after the first year.

A marvelous spring picture is achieved when the Yoshino is planted among other spring-flowering trees, such as dogwoods, redbuds, and crabapples. But be sure to allow at least 20 feet between each tree. For this flowering cherry has a potential height and spread of 35-40 feet.

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Comments

  1. 1

    Adele says

    April 9, 2010 at 8:26 pm

    I once lived on a Yoshino-lined street in Baltimore. When the trees bloomed (sometimes as early as mid-March, depending on weather), the beauty was breathtaking.

    Too bad the tree isn't hardy in zone 4, where I now live and garden!

  2. 2

    Phoebe says

    April 10, 2010 at 10:49 am

    This is a great tree for shade, too. I have one in my front yard.

  3. 3

    Sally says

    April 10, 2010 at 1:00 pm

    This might be a silly question, but does the yoshino bear fruit?

  4. 4

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    April 10, 2010 at 5:20 pm

    Sally – Although the Yoshino Cherry tree produces an abundance of flowers, it does not produce cherries. It is strictly ornamental.

  5. 5

    James says

    April 11, 2010 at 12:01 pm

    I'd like to have this cherry tree, but I worry about insects. My crab apple tree gets little worms (maybe they are caterpillars) that skeletonize the foliage in mid-summer. Have you noticed any insects on your yoshino tree?

  6. 6

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    April 11, 2010 at 12:57 pm

    James – my tree has not been bothered by pests. Even the Japanese beetle leaves it alone.

  7. 7

    Glory Jasper and Hiroshi Hashiguchi says

    March 5, 2012 at 2:48 am

    I will visit my three Yoshino trees in Accord NY this year hopefully to see them bloom. I’ve seen them bloom once in the 10+ years I’ve had them as I spend most of my time in Singapore. This year I was determined to catch them, especially since I’ve been investing in pruning and coddling the trees by a Cornell graduate tree man. I booked a flight on the 22nd of April but the weather has been really off this year. I cant find any real cherry watch online like what they have in Japan. Do you know when the Yoshino cherries will bloom in the Catskills? Do I have to re-arrange my trip? I also want to invite my family and neighbors to a real Hanami. Washington DC is predicting very early, March 24-31 for the peak. Catskills being so much colder may wait for me yet. What is your advice, with thanks, Glory

  8. 8

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    March 5, 2012 at 8:43 am

    Glory Jasper and Hiroshi Hashiguichi – Thanks for visiting.

    Of course you want to see your Yoshino cherry trees in bloom! I live not far from the Catskills, and I can tell you that my tree — for the past 4 years — has always bloomed in early April.

    Hope to “see” you here soon again.

  9. 9

    Gene says

    May 20, 2013 at 11:09 am

    My purely ornamental “yoshino” cherry tree just got planted two weeks ago and today, I noticed it has cherries on it. Most are green but some are red and are maybe a litte smaller than a dime. What do you all think this really is? I bought it from a knowlegeable nursery. I haven’t called them because I’m not complaining, but I am curious. Any thoughts?

  10. 10

    Lee Huddleston says

    May 12, 2015 at 7:01 pm

    Losing my 12 year old Yashino. The arborist says these trees only last about 10 to 12 years.

  11. 11

    Stacey Gallagher says

    April 21, 2016 at 4:28 pm

    I planted mine Yoshino in the fall in October and it is still not budding/blooming. Something wrong?

  12. 12

    Hillary says

    April 22, 2016 at 8:40 pm

    My Yoshino Cherry that I plant 2 seasons ago has little cherries on it–most are green, some a mix of green/red. Very strange. My tree is in TN

  13. 13

    Judy Chan says

    June 26, 2017 at 3:26 pm

    I would love to have it planted in my driveway but cannot find a supplier to take the order for delivery to my country in Malaysia. Any recommendation of supplier here??

  14. 14

    Kim says

    June 22, 2019 at 11:09 pm

    Hi there! I just bought two Yoshino Cherry trees. We live 2hrs north of Syracuse zone 4a. Do you think they will survive? It says zone 5 on the tag, I didn’t know my zone until I looked it up online (after I bought them). Also, is there anything I need to do to prep for winter? Thanks!

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