Weeping Cherry Tree (Prunus subhirtella 'Pendula'): Cascading Pink Spring Blossoms
The weeping cherry tree (Prunus subhirtella 'Pendula') is a flowering ornamental tree with arching branches that grows 20 to 30 feet tall in USDA zones 4 to 8. The weeping cherry needs full sun and blooms light pink in March and April. TN Nursery grows weeping cherry trees in Tennessee and ships them bare root, Buy 1 Get 1 Free.
The weeping cherry is also called weeping Higan cherry, weeping Japanese cherry, spring cherry and rosebud cherry. Many people call the tree a "cherry weeping willow" because the hanging branches look like a weeping willow covered in cherry blossoms. The weeping cherry blossom tree belongs to the rose family, Rosaceae, and comes from Japan, where weeping cherries have been planted around temples and gardens for centuries. At our Altamont, Tennessee nursery we grow weeping cherry trees in sunny rows, dig them while dormant and ship them bare root so they root in quickly.
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Botanical name: Prunus subhirtella 'Pendula' (Prunus × subhirtella), rose family (Rosaceae)
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Also called: weeping Higan cherry, weeping Japanese cherry, spring cherry, rosebud cherry
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Flower: light pink single blossoms on bare branches, March–April
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Size: 20–30 feet tall, 15–25 feet wide at maturity
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Hardiness: USDA zones 4–8
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Form: arching, weeping branches that sweep toward the ground
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Best uses: specimen tree, front yards, beside ponds and patios, cottage and Japanese-style gardens
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What ships: bare-root trees at 1–2, 2–3 or 3–4 feet, Buy 1 Get 1 Free, Buy 3 Get 2 Free or 25 Trees (Wholesale)
What Makes the Pink Weeping Cherry Tree Special?
The pink weeping cherry tree is special because its thin, flexible branches arch out from the trunk and hang in long curtains that fill with blossoms from top to bottom each spring. A weeping cherry in bloom looks like a waterfall of pink flowers.
The weeping form makes the weeping cherry one of the best focal-point trees for a home landscape. Plant a weeping cherry in the middle of a front lawn, at the corner of a house or beside a pond, where the reflection doubles the show. Because the crown of a weeping cherry spreads nearly as wide as the tree grows tall, the tree fits yards where a big shade tree would be too much.
How Big Do Weeping Cherry Trees Get?
Weeping cherry trees grow 20 to 30 feet tall and 15 to 25 feet wide at maturity, at a moderate rate of about 1 foot per year. The table below shows the typical size of a weeping cherry tree by age in full sun.
| Tree age after planting |
Typical height |
What to expect |
| Year 1 |
Planted size (1–4 feet) |
Roots establish; first leaves and new shoots |
| Years 3–5 |
6–10 feet |
Branches begin to arch; first full blooms |
| Years 10–15 |
15–20 feet |
Full weeping canopy and heavy spring bloom |
| Mature |
20–30 feet |
15–25 foot spread of cascading branches |
When Do Weeping Cherry Trees Bloom?
Weeping cherry trees bloom in early to mid spring, usually March or April, before the leaves open. Each pale to light pink weeping cherry blossom is about 1 inch across, and bees visit the flowers for early nectar.
After the bloom, new weeping cherry tree leaves open with a bronze tint and turn deep, glossy green, making a cool, shady curtain in summer. Small dark fruits ripen in early summer and feed songbirds. In fall the leaves turn yellow and gold, and in winter the bare, arching branches give the weeping cherry a sculptural look against snow.
How Do You Plant and Prune a Weeping Cherry Tree?
Plant a bare-root weeping cherry tree in full sun and moist, well-drained soil with the root flare at ground level, then prune the tree right after spring flowering. TN Nursery ships the weeping cherry dormant, with roots packed in moist material.
- Soak the weeping cherry roots in water for 1 to 2 hours.
- Choose at least 6 hours of direct sun and allow 15 to 20 feet for the branches to spread.
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the roots and just as deep.
- Set the tree with the root flare at ground level, spread the roots and backfill with native soil.
- Water deeply and add 2 to 3 inches of mulch in a wide ring, kept 3 inches from the trunk.
- Water weekly through the first growing season when rain is light.
To prune a weeping cherry, trim shoots that grow straight up and shorten branches that drag on the ground, right after the flowers fade in April or May. Choose 1–2 feet for the best value, 2–3 feet for balance, or 3–4 feet for a head start. Buy 1 Get 1 Free frames an entry with a matched pair, Buy 3 Get 2 Free plants a small grove, and 25 Trees (Wholesale) suits large properties.
What Should You Plant With a Weeping Cherry Tree?
A weeping cherry tree pairs beautifully with other spring-blooming trees such as Yoshino cherry, Kwanzan cherry, redbud and dogwood.
A Yoshino cherry tree adds white blossoms at the same time, and a Kwanzan cherry adds double pink flowers a few weeks later. An Eastern redbud or Forest Pansy redbud brings rosy purple color and heart-shaped leaves. A white dogwood carries the show into late spring. Browse all of our flowering trees or our full tree collection.
Weeping Cherry Tree FAQ
Do weeping cherry trees need full sun?
Yes. Weeping cherry trees need full sun, at least 6 hours a day, for the most flowers and the fullest shape.
What zones do weeping cherry trees grow in?
Weeping cherry trees grow in USDA zones 4 through 8, which covers most of the United States, including all of Tennessee.
Do weeping cherry trees produce fruit?
Yes. Weeping cherry trees set small, dark, pea-sized fruits in early summer that songbirds enjoy.
Is a weeping cherry the same as a weeping willow?
No. A weeping cherry is a flowering cherry tree with a weeping shape; people call the tree a cherry weeping willow because of the graceful, hanging branches.
When should you prune a weeping cherry tree?
Prune a weeping cherry tree right after the spring bloom, in April or May, removing upright shoots and trimming branches that touch the ground.
When is the best time to plant a weeping cherry tree?
Plant a bare-root weeping cherry tree while dormant, from November through April, whenever the ground is not frozen.
Planting & Growing Information
Ships: Bare root, dormant, at 1–2, 2–3 or 3–4 feet
Planting Zone: 4–8
Height at Maturity: 20–30 feet, with a 15–25 foot spread
Water Needs: Moderate; water weekly the first season, then during dry spells
Sun or Shade: Full sun, at least 6 hours daily
Bloom Season: Early to mid spring (March–April)
Soil: Moist, well-drained loam, sand or clay loam
Care: Mulch each spring, feed once in early spring and prune right after flowering to keep the weeping shape.
Plant Attributes: Graceful weeping form, pink spring blossoms, yellow fall color, early nectar for bees, summer fruit for songbirds
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. Our weeping cherry trees are grown at our Altamont, Tennessee nursery, dug while dormant and shipped bare root so they arrive ready to plant. For more spring ideas, read Trees That Bloom With Pink Flowers and The Beauty of Flowering Trees on our garden blog, or browse more flowering trees.
