Prunus serrulata: Country Or Region Of Origin
Japan, China, Korea
Plant Profile: Prunus serrulata
Taxonomy: Prunus serrulataNames
Japanese Cherry, Japanese Flowering Cherry
Phonetic Spelling:PROO-nus ser-yoo-LAY-tuh
Genus:Prunus
Species:serrulata
Family:Roseaceae
The striking spring foliage and the unique reddish-brown mahogany bark make this tree an excellent choice for a specimen. Its shape ranges from vase-like to rounded, although it tends to have a relatively short lifespan. The Kwanzan cultivar is particularly well-liked and is known for its resilience against deer damage.
However, it is important to note that this tree can be susceptible to trunk splitting, along with other potential insect and disease issues.
Prunus serrulata Feature Summary
Prunus serrulata Image Gallery
Tags
#red
#deciduous
#fall color
#interesting bark
#specimen
#white flowers
#wildlife plant
#spring flowers
#food source
#cpp
#deer resistant
#weak wood
#vase-shaped
#larval host plant
#bird friendly
#butterfly friendly
#problem for cats
#pollinator garden
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses
#eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly
Similar Plants
Prunus serrulata is often confused with:
Prunus serrulata Feature Summary
Attributes
Japan, China, Korea
This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north. Birds relish the fruits, though they are not plentiful.
Woody
Fruit
Rarely fruits.
Drupe
Flowers
White or pink single or double flowers in mid-spring when leaves emerge.
Pink
White
Spring
4-5 petals/rays
Leaves
2"-5" long 1 1/4"-2 1/2" wide alternate, simple, ovate to laceolate with serrate margins, cuneate to rounded base, acuminate apex. Petioles have 2-4 glands. New leaves are red, bronze to reddish fall color
Deciduous
Green
Red/Burgundy
Red/Burgundy
Simple
Alternate
Ovate
Lanceolate
Serrate
3-6 inches
1-3 inches
Bark
Red brown to gray mahogany bark with horizontal lenticles that make it easy to ID.
Dark Gray
Dark Brown
Red/Burgundy
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Deciduous
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Medium
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Coastal
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Stem
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Specimen
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Weak Wood
Short-lived
Prunus serrulata Image Gallery
Prunus serrulata Attributes
Prunus serrulata: Wildlife Value
This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north. Birds relish the fruits, though they are not plentiful.
Prunus serrulata: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Prunus serrulata Fruit
Prunus serrulata: Fruit Description
Rarely fruits.
Prunus serrulata: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Prunus serrulata Flowers
Prunus serrulata: Flower Description
White or pink single or double flowers in mid-spring when leaves emerge.
Prunus serrulata: Flower Color
Pink
White
Prunus serrulata: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Prunus serrulata: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Prunus serrulata Leaves
Prunus serrulata: Leaf Description
2"-5" long 1 1/4"-2 1/2" wide alternate, simple, ovate to laceolate with serrate margins, cuneate to rounded base, acuminate apex. Petioles have 2-4 glands. New leaves are red, bronze to reddish fall color
Prunus serrulata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Prunus serrulata: Leaf Color
Green
Red/Burgundy
Prunus serrulata: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Red/Burgundy
Prunus serrulata: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Prunus serrulata: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Prunus serrulata: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Prunus serrulata: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Prunus serrulata: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Prunus serrulata: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Prunus serrulata: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Prunus serrulata Bark
Prunus serrulata: Bark Description
Red brown to gray mahogany bark with horizontal lenticles that make it easy to ID.
Prunus serrulata: Bark Color
Dark Brown
Dark Gray
Red/Burgundy
Prunus serrulata Whole Plant Traits
Prunus serrulata: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Prunus serrulata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Prunus serrulata: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Prunus serrulata: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Prunus serrulata: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Prunus serrulata Cultural Conditions
Prunus serrulata: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Prunus serrulata: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Prunus serrulata: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Prunus serrulata: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
Prunus serrulata Stem
Prunus serrulata: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Prunus serrulata Landscape
Prunus serrulata: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Prunus serrulata: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Prunus serrulata: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Prunus serrulata: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Prunus serrulata: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
