Tree · Rosaceae family
Japanese flowering cherry
Prunus serrulata
In short a 10-second read
Japanese flowering cherry (tree) grows to 5–10 m tall and 5–8 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil. It flowers in April; the flowers are white. Hardy to −29 °C.
× spread 5–8 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil. Hardy to −29 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
average to moist · watering: moderate
Soil: loamy
Soil pH 5.5–8.5
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 10–20 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
April · white
Pruning
No pruning needed — just remove dead or damaged parts (June–August).
Planting
container plant: October–April; bare-root: October–March; root-balled: October–March
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −29 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −29 °C
- Deciduous — bare in winter
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does Japanese flowering cherry flower?
In April; the flowers are white.
Does Japanese flowering cherry tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does Japanese flowering cherry need?
At maturity 5–8 m wide and 5–10 m tall; recommended spacing 600 cm.
Does Japanese flowering cherry survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −29 °C.
Where the data comes from
We compared the data in 18 expert sources. Last checked 17 October 2026.
Show sources (18)
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Prunus serrulata
- Oregon State University Landscape Plants — Prunus serrulata
- GBIF Occurrence Search API — Prunus serrulata
- Polleninformation.at Plantcompass — Blackthorn / sloe / cherry / damson plum
- Zahradníková E., Rendeková A., Ščevková J. (2023) Temporal variation of allergenic potential in urban parks: a case study from Bratislava, Slovakia. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31: 2026–2041 (doi 10.1007/s11356-023-31137-9) — tabuľka peľového a alergénneho potenciálu drevín
- RHS - Watering
- RHS - Prunus serrulata
- RHS - Shrubs and trees: light pruning
- RHS - Silver leaf
- RHS - Trees and shrubs: planting
- Clemson HGIC - Planting Trees Correctly
- RHS - How to grow trees
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
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