Prunus serrulata | Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum

A Japanese flowering cherry laden with large, pink blossoms outside of Ketchum Hall.

A Japanese flowering cherry outside of Ketchum Hall. This cultivar is known as 'Royal Burgundy' and bears deep, burgundy foliage.

A closeup of a Japanese flowering cherry leaf displaying shades of deep green tinged with red and burgundy.

A closeup of Japanese flowering cherry foliage.

A closeup of Japanese flowering cherry bark.

Japanese flowering cherry bark.

Scientific name: Prunus serrulata

Common name: Japanese Flowering Cherry

Native: No

Native range: Native to China, Korea, and Japan [1,2,4].

Distribution in North America: Click to view the USDA Plants Database page for P. serrulata.

USDA Zones: 5B-9A [1]

Maximum age: The cultivars are short-lived, with a maximum age of approximately 20 years [2,3].

Ecology: The wild version bears fruit, however cultivars used in ornamental plantings do not bear fruit. Hence, it has little value to wildlife [1,2,3].

Ethnobotany: Due to its lack of fruit, it is used mainly as an ornamental, however closely related species and wild Japanese flowering cherry bear fruits with antiviral and antioxidative properties that are used to treat heart problems and pain [2].