Yoshino Cherry Tree

The Yoshino Cherry delivers a profuse and spectacular early spring display that few flowering trees can match—thousands of fragrant white to pale pink flowers emerge along bare branches in clouds of delicate blooms, creating what many consider the most breathtaking moment in the ornamental tree calendar. The almond-scented flowers appear in 3 to 6-flowered clusters before or simultaneous to the emergence of foliage, typically blooming for 2 to 3 weeks in late March to early April. This graceful tree typically grows 30 to 40 feet tall with a spreading, broad-rounded, open crown that provides elegant horizontal branching—ideal for planting along walks, over patios, or as a specimen tree. Dark green serrate leaves emerge as flowers fade, turning yellow with bronze tints in fall. Small black cherries follow the flowers, bitter to humans but loved by birds. The smooth bark marked with prominent horizontal lenticels adds winter interest.

The Yoshino Cherry holds a distinguished place in American horticultural history as the centerpiece of Washington D.C.'s iconic cherry blossom displays. On March 27, 1912, First Lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted the first two Yoshino cherry trees on the northern bank of the Tidal Basin—part of a gift of 3,020 trees from Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki to celebrate friendship between Japan and the United States [4]. The gift followed a dramatic 1910 attempt when 2,000 trees arrived infested with insects and nematodes and had to be burned to protect native plants [4]. These trees launched what became the National Cherry Blossom Festival and remain an enduring symbol of U.S.-Japan relations. Hardy in zones 5 through 8, Yoshino Cherry is a hybrid of unknown parentage from Japan, likely involving Prunus speciosa and Prunus pendula [2]. The tree grows quickly but is relatively short-lived—typically 15 to 20 years in urban environments, though potentially longer under ideal conditions [3]. It performs best in full sun and moist, well-drained soils, tolerating heat and humidity but not drought [1].

The fragrant spring flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators with nectar and pollen, providing valuable early-season forage [2]. The small black drupes attract various bird species including robins and cedar waxwings during summer months [2]. NC State Extension notes the tree serves as a larval host for some butterflies [2], though like other Asian ornamental cherries, Yoshino Cherry won't match the wildlife value of native North American Prunus species. Native cherries like Prunus serotina (black cherry) support hundreds of Lepidoptera species that serve as essential food for nesting songbirds, while Asian cherries support far fewer native insects. The tree is susceptible to numerous pests and diseases including aphids, borers, scale, tent caterpillars, powdery mildew, leaf spot, and bacterial canker [3]. Despite its relatively short lifespan and maintenance needs, Yoshino Cherry remains one of the most celebrated flowering trees for its unmatched spring spectacle—those few weeks of abundant, fragrant blooms create a display that has captivated millions of visitors to Washington D.C. and home gardeners for over a century.

[1] Missouri Botanical Garden.
[2] NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.
[3] University of Florida IFAS Extension.
[4] National Park Service. History of the Cherry Trees

General care for any tree or shrub is easy, but like any living thing will require your attention. Please educate yourself and follow these simple rules.