Japanese Flowering Cherry

Japanese Flowering Cherry

Prunus serrulata

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

▲ flowering tree

▲ flowers

▲ ▼ leaves, with below showing some fall color

▲ ▼ trunk and bark, displaying typical "cherry bark" appearance

Location on Missouri State University campus: west side of Meyer Library

Leaves: ovate, glabrous, but rougher textured above; 2-5" long and 2x as wide

Stems: red to tan, slender; red buds the angle outward from the twigs

Bark: smooth, reddish-brown with horizontal lenticels when young; brown and scaly with age

Size/Growth Habit and Growth Rate: 20-25' tall, often branching near ground; rounded to flattened oval or vase-shaped habit; medium growth rate

Flowers: usually double, pinkish in axillary clusters in early spring before leaves emerge

Fruit: often not produced

Growing Conditions: prefers full sun, moist, well-drained soils, but very adaptable

Problems: usually live only 30-40 years due to insect problems