Choose Your Flowering Cherry Tree by Size

Before purchasing a flowering cherry tree, first consider the various species available.  This is a great tree, and can give you many years of enjoyment but it is  important to choose a variety that suits your space and purpose.   The flowering cherry comes in four common species, each one having its own separate growth patterns.

The first is the Sargentii Flowering Cherry Tree, which can grow up to 50 feet tall. This is the largest flowering cherry tree that you can purchase; and if you have a lot of room for growth, this may be the one that you want. The Sargentii has single, pink flowers that are clumped together in groups of two to four. They bloom during the mid season, and during the fall, the foliage is red.

Another is the Kwanzan, which comes in an upright inverted cone shape that will grow approximately 30 feet high by 20 feet wide. The flowers on this tree are large and rosy pink in color. They also bloom during mid season. And in the fall, the foliage is orange.

The third is the Snow Fountain Flowering Cherry, which grows only 12 feet high, and is perfect if you have a smaller yard. The branches droop down to the ground. Flowers are white, and they bloom earlier than the Sargentii and the Kwanzan. Bloom time for this tree is early in the season.

And the last is the Pendula Weeping Japanese Flowering Cherry, which is approximately 20 feet high, and about 15 feet wide. Flowers are pale pink, and they bloom early in the season just like the Snow Fountain flowering cherry tree. Foliage is green in the fall.

Overall, this tree is a great choice, and can be had in a variety of different species to suit the aesthetic and spatial limitations of your yard.

Watch any Japanese film or anime and chances are, you'll be treated to a visual spectacle of avenues raining with bright red leaves that paint a vibrant crimson upon the environment.  And the source of these lovely leaves?  The flowering cherry tree, or Sakura as it is known in Japan, is quite renowned for being the most enchanting and mystical tree in existence.  Its reputation is legendary.  Oriental legends tell of cherry trees being the embodiment of gods who fell in love, and lost their immortality.  Other versions say that the flowering cherry tree contains the soul of the earth, and come spring, when its blossoms are in full bloom, it is said that the earth is celebrating the passing of seasons.

It is not difficult to imagine why the flowering cherry tree has become a highly desirable tree type in the western hemisphere.  With its blooms of radiant red, it's sure to break the monotony of brown and green that often pervades each and every garden.

The flowering cherry tree is not the easiest tree to grow.  To date, only a few territories are known to be suitable environments for this far eastern pride.  These areas are Kentucky, Maryland, California, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.  This is so because of the climate in these places are closest to the climate in Japan, where the tree traces its origin.  Also, the general soil condition in these territories is what the cherry trees need.  Marginal rain, without complete absence, also ensures that the cherry tree will receive adequate amount of water.  Too much water is not healthy for this tree type.

The cherry tree is a fast growing tree type.  In four years, it will grow very tall and very wide, which can be quite unmanageable if not pruned regularly.  The cherry tree is also known to attract pests called Japanese beetles.  These bugs feed on the leaves, and if left uncontained, can ruin the beauty of the tree. 

This tree is highly deciduous.  Its leaves will fall all year long.  Regular maintenance of the lawn is likewise required, and if the lawn owner does not have the time or the patience to commit to this task, then the cherry tree can cause quite a number of problems.

But because of the sheer beauty of its bright red (often, bright pink in the mainland) blooms and the shape it can take once properly trained, growing a flowering cherry tree is very much worth the difficulties.