Kwanzan Cherry Tree: The Showiest Double-Pink Flowering Cherry
The Kwanzan cherry tree (Prunus serrulata 'Kanzan') is a Japanese flowering cherry that grows 15 to 25 feet tall and wide and covers its branches in double pink blossoms each April. Kwanzan cherry trees are hardy in USDA zones 5–9 and need full sun. TN Nursery ships bare-root Kwanzan trees at 1–4 feet.
Kwanzan, also spelled Kanzan and known in Japan as Sekiyama, was developed in Japan during the Edo period from Oshima cherry hybrids. The tree belongs to the rose family, Rosaceae, and it is one of the most popular flowering cherries in North America. Kwanzan cherry trees are planted throughout East Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., where they bloom about two weeks after the pale Yoshino cherries and extend the cherry blossom season.
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Botanical name: Prunus serrulata 'Kanzan' (also listed as Prunus 'Kanzan'), rose family (Rosaceae)
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Also called: Kanzan cherry, Sekiyama, Kwanzan flowering cherry, Japanese flowering cherry
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Flower: 2- to 2½-inch double pink blossoms with 20 to 30 petals each, in hanging clusters of 2 to 5, mid-spring
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Foliage: new leaves emerge bronze-red, turn glossy dark green in summer, then yellow, orange and bronze in fall
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Form: upright vase shape when young, spreading into a broad, rounded canopy
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Best uses: specimen tree, front-yard focal point, driveway and street plantings, patio shade and allées
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What ships: bare-root trees in 1–2 ft, 2–3 ft and 3–4 ft sizes, as Buy 1 Get 1 Free, Buy 3 Get 2 Free or 25-tree wholesale bundles
When Do Kwanzan Cherry Trees Bloom?
Kwanzan cherry trees bloom in mid-spring, usually in April, for about 2 weeks, about 2 weeks later than Yoshino cherry trees. The blossoms open just as the bronze new leaves unfold, so the flowers glow against a coppery backdrop.
Deep pink buds swell in late March, then each cluster opens into ruffled, carnation-like double blooms. At peak bloom the whole canopy turns pink. As the season ends, falling petals carpet the lawn in soft pink.
| Season |
Kwanzan cherry tree highlights |
| Late March |
Deep pink buds swell |
| April |
Double pink blossoms for about 2 weeks; bronze new leaves |
| May–September |
Glossy dark green canopy and light shade |
| October–November |
Yellow, orange and bronze fall color |
| Winter |
Shiny reddish-brown bark with horizontal markings |
How Big Does a Kwanzan Cherry Tree Get?
A Kwanzan cherry tree grows 15 to 25 feet tall and 15 to 25 feet wide at maturity, and older trees in ideal sites can reach 30 feet. Kwanzan grows at a moderate rate of about 1 to 2 feet per year.
Young Kwanzan trees have a narrow, upright vase shape with branches angling up from the trunk. With age, the canopy spreads into a broad, rounded crown. Plant Kwanzan cherry trees 20 to 25 feet apart for an avenue, or at least 15 feet from the house for a front-yard specimen.
Do Kwanzan Cherry Trees Produce Fruit?
Kwanzan cherry trees produce little or no fruit. Kwanzan is a double-flowered ornamental cherry bred for its blossoms, so the tree puts its energy into the flower show and leaves no cherries to clean up.
For an edible harvest, pair a Kwanzan cherry with fruit trees elsewhere in the yard. For spring color that also feeds early bees, plant native redbud and dogwood nearby.
Where Should You Plant a Kwanzan Cherry Tree?
Plant a Kwanzan cherry tree in full sun, with at least 6 hours of direct light a day, in moist, well-drained soil. Kwanzan grows well in loam, clay-loam and sandy soils with a slightly acidic to neutral pH.
Choose an open spot where the spreading canopy has room, such as a lawn, a corner of the front yard or a sunny patio edge. Water deeply once a week through the first two summers, and spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch over the root zone, keeping it a few inches from the trunk. Prune only right after bloom, to shape the canopy or remove crossing branches.
What Should You Plant With Kwanzan Cherry Trees?
Other spring-flowering trees and low evergreen ground covers pair well with Kwanzan cherry trees. Plant a Yoshino cherry tree nearby to stretch the cherry blossom season by two weeks, or a weeping cherry for a graceful contrast in form. A native Eastern redbud and white dogwood bloom at the same time. Underplant the canopy with evergreen vinca minor and a drift of daffodils. Explore more choices in our cherry blossom trees and flowering trees collections.
How Do You Plant a Bare-Root Kwanzan Cherry Tree?
Plant a bare-root Kwanzan cherry tree with the root flare at soil level in a hole twice as wide as the roots, then water deeply. Plant while the tree is dormant, from late fall through early spring.
TN Nursery ships Kwanzan cherry trees bare root while dormant, in 1–2 ft, 2–3 ft or 3–4 ft sizes. Each tree arrives as a leafless young tree with its roots packed to stay moist in transit.
- Soak the roots in water for 2 to 3 hours.
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the root spread and just as deep.
- Build a small mound in the center and spread the roots over it.
- Set the root flare level with the surrounding soil and backfill.
- Water deeply and mulch 2 to 3 inches, keeping mulch off the trunk.
Planting & Growing Information
Botanical Name: Prunus serrulata 'Kanzan'
Plant Family: Rosaceae
Ships: Bare root, dormant; 1–2 ft, 2–3 ft or 3–4 ft
Planting Zone: 5–9
Height at Maturity: 15–25 feet, occasionally to 30 feet
Spread: 15–25 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate, about 1–2 feet per year
Sun or Shade: Full sun, 6+ hours of direct light
Water Needs: Moderate; water weekly the first two summers
Soil: Moist, well-drained loam, clay-loam or sandy soil
Bloom Season: April (mid-spring)
Flower Color: Double pink
Origin: Japan
Care: Mulch the root zone, water during dry spells, and prune right after bloom.
Plant Attributes: Double pink spring flowers, bronze new leaves, colorful fall foliage, little or no fruit
Kwanzan Cherry Tree FAQ
How fast does a Kwanzan cherry tree grow?
A Kwanzan cherry tree grows at a moderate rate of about 1 to 2 feet per year in full sun and well-drained soil.
What zones do Kwanzan cherry trees grow in?
Kwanzan cherry trees grow in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9.
What is the difference between Kwanzan and Yoshino cherry trees?
Kwanzan cherry trees have double, deep pink blossoms that open about 2 weeks after Yoshino, while Yoshino cherry trees have single, pale pink to white blossoms that open earlier in spring.
What color are Kwanzan cherry tree leaves in fall?
Kwanzan cherry tree leaves turn yellow, orange and bronze in October and November.
How far from a house should you plant a Kwanzan cherry tree?
Plant a Kwanzan cherry tree at least 15 feet from a house so the 15- to 25-foot canopy has room to spread.
What is the scientific name of the Kwanzan cherry tree?
The scientific name of the Kwanzan cherry tree is Prunus serrulata 'Kanzan', also listed as Prunus 'Kanzan', in the rose family.
Grown and Shipped by TN Nursery
TN Nursery has grown hardy plants since 1959, more than 65 years of experience, and has supplied plants to major U.S. landmarks like the Washington Monument and Arlington National Cemetery. At our Altamont, Tennessee nursery, we grow and ship flowering trees like the Kwanzan cherry to gardens across the country. Each tree is dug while dormant and packed bare root so it settles in quickly at planting. Want to learn more first? Read Kwanzan Cherry Tree, Spring's 10 Most Vibrant Flowering Trees and The Beauty of Flowering Trees on our garden blog.
