Yoshino Cherry Tree

Yoshino Cherry Tree (Prunus × yedoensis): The Classic Cherry Blossom Tree

The Yoshino cherry tree (Prunus × yedoensis) is a fast-growing flowering cherry that reaches 30 to 40 feet tall in USDA zones 5 to 8. The Yoshino cherry needs full sun and covers its branches in white blossoms in March and April. TN Nursery grows Yoshino cherry trees in Tennessee and ships them bare root, Buy 1 Get 1 Free.

The Yoshino cherry is the tree behind the famous cherry blossom festival in Washington, D.C., and the most widely planted cherry blossom tree in Japan, where it is called Somei-Yoshino. Other names include Japanese flowering cherry, Tokyo cherry and Potomac cherry. The tree belongs to the rose family, Rosaceae, and is a hybrid that first appeared in Japanese gardens. At our Altamont, Tennessee nursery we grow Yoshino cherry trees in open rows, dig them while dormant and ship them bare root so they settle in fast.

• Botanical name: Prunus × yedoensis, rose family (Rosaceae)
• Also called: Somei-Yoshino, Japanese flowering cherry, Tokyo cherry, Potomac cherry
• Flower: pale pink buds that open to lightly fragrant white blossoms, March–April
• Size: 30–40 feet tall, 20–40 feet wide at maturity
• Hardiness: USDA zones 5–8
• Growth rate: fast
• Best uses: specimen tree, front yards, avenues and driveways, parks and patio shade
• 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)

When Do Yoshino Cherry Trees Bloom?

Yoshino cherry trees bloom in early spring, usually late March to early April in Tennessee, before the leaves open. The Yoshino cherry blossom show lasts about two weeks, then the petals fall like snow.

The Yoshino cherry tree gives color in every season. The calendar below shows what the tree does through the year.

Why Plant a Yoshino Flowering Cherry Tree?

A Yoshino flowering cherry tree is one of the fastest cherries to put on a big spring show, and a young tree often blooms within its first few years. The wide, umbrella-shaped crown of the Yoshino cherry makes a perfect centerpiece for a front lawn, a soft frame for a driveway or a shade tree over a patio.

Planted in a row, Yoshino cherry trees create the blossom-lined avenue that made the Washington, D.C. Tidal Basin famous. In 1912 the city of Tokyo gave Washington more than 3,000 cherry trees, and most were Yoshino. The early Yoshino blossoms are also an important first meal for honeybees and native bees coming out of winter, and robins and cedar waxwings feed on the small summer fruits.

How Do You Plant a Yoshino Cherry Tree?

Plant a bare-root Yoshino cherry tree in full sun and well-drained soil, with the root flare at ground level and 25 to 30 feet of space to spread. TN Nursery ships the Yoshino cherry tree dormant, with roots packed in moist material.

1. Soak the Yoshino cherry roots in water for 1 to 2 hours.
2. Choose a spot with at least 6 hours of direct sun and well-drained soil.
3. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root spread and just as deep as the roots.
4. Set the tree with the root flare at ground level, spread the roots and backfill with native soil.
5. Water deeply and add 2 to 3 inches of mulch in a wide ring, kept 3 inches from the trunk.
6. Water once a week during the first growing season when rain is light.

Choose 1–2 feet for the best value, 2–3 feet for a balance of size and price, or 3–4 feet for a head start. Buy 1 Get 1 Free gives a matching pair for a front walk, Buy 3 Get 2 Free plants a small row, and the 25-tree wholesale bundle lines a long drive. For more detail, see our guide to planting bare-root trees in the dormant season.

What Should You Plant With Yoshino Cherry Trees?

The best trees to plant with a Yoshino cherry are other spring bloomers, such as redbud, dogwood and Kwanzan cherry, which stretch the flowering season from March into May.

Eastern redbud blooms rosy purple at the same time as the Yoshino. White dogwood and pink dogwood follow a few weeks later. The Kwanzan cherry tree opens double pink flowers after the Yoshino finishes. For a cascading shape, add a weeping cherry tree. Browse all of our flowering trees to plan a full spring display.

Yoshino Cherry Tree FAQ

How big does a Yoshino cherry tree get?

A mature Yoshino cherry tree grows 30 to 40 feet tall and 20 to 40 feet wide, with a broad, rounded crown.

How fast do Yoshino cherry trees grow?

Yoshino cherry trees grow fast, often adding 1 to 2 feet or more per year in full sun and good soil.

Do Yoshino cherry trees produce fruit?

Yes. Yoshino cherry trees set small black cherries in early summer that are grown for songbirds rather than for eating.

What is the difference between Kwanzan and Yoshino cherry trees?

Yoshino cherry trees have single white to pale pink flowers that open early, while Kwanzan cherry trees have double deep pink flowers that open about two weeks later.

When should you plant a Yoshino cherry tree?

Plant a bare-root Yoshino cherry tree while the tree is dormant, from November through April, whenever the ground is not frozen.

Can Yoshino cherry trees grow in Tennessee?

Yes. Tennessee lies in USDA zones 6 and 7, right in the middle of the Yoshino cherry tree's zone 5–8 range.

Planting & Growing Information

Ships: Bare root, dormant, at 1–2, 2–3 or 3–4 feet
Planting Zone: 5–8
Height at Maturity: 30–40 feet, with a 20–40 foot spread
Water Needs: Moderate; water weekly the first season, then during dry spells
Sun or Shade: Full sun, at least 6 hours daily; tolerates light shade
Bloom Season: Early spring (March–April)
Soil: Moist, well-drained loam, sand or clay loam
Care: Mulch the root zone each spring. Prune lightly right after flowering if needed. Feed once in early spring with a balanced tree fertilizer.
Plant Attributes: Fast growing, white spring blossoms, gold-bronze 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. Every Yoshino cherry tree we sell is grown at our Altamont, Tennessee nursery, dug while dormant and shipped bare root so it arrives ready to plant. Looking for more spring color ideas? Read Spring's 10 Most Vibrant Flowering Trees and Best Flowering Tree Choices for Your Yard on our garden blog, or browse more flowering trees.