How to identify Japanese cherry (Prunus serrulata)

How to identify Japanese cherry (Prunus serrulata)

Japanese cherry, also known as Japanese flowering cherry, Hill cherry, Sakura

Japanese cherry is a flowering tree, reaching heights of 15 to 25 feet (4.5 to 7.6 meters) with a crown as wide, forming a vase-like or horizontally spreading shape. Its bark is smooth, thin, and reddish-brown, featuring distinct horizontal lenticels. The branches bear alternate, simple leaves that are lanceolate to ovate with serrated edges, presenting a dark green upper surface and a lighter underside. In spring, japanese cherry produces profuse double white flowers in clusters, each blossom being part of a trio or a quintet. By late summer, it yields small, round, black drupes.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Tree

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Japanese cherry

Smooth reddish-brown bark with distinct horizontal lenticels.

Alternate lanceolate to ovate leaves with serrated edges.

Clusters of double white flowers in trios or quintets.

Small round black drupes in late summer.

Distinctive red-brown twigs, smooth with large buds.

Detailed Traits of Japanese cherry

Leaf Features

The leaves of japanese cherry are alternate and simple, measuring 2 to 5 inches (5 to 12 cm) in length and 1.25 to 2 inches (3 to 5 cm) in width. They are ovate to lanceolate with serrate margins. The base ranges from cuneate to rounded while the apex is acuminate. Petioles feature 2 to 4 glands. New growth appears red and bronze, transitioning to dark green on the upper surface and paler green beneath. In fall, the foliage turns reddish to yellow.

Leaf Shape

Elliptic ,

Circular

Leaf Base

Circular

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

Leaf Apex

Acuminate

Leaf Texture

Papyraceous

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Flower Features

The flowers of japanese cherry are notable for their delicate beauty. Typically blooming from late March to April, they appear in clusters of 3 to 5 blooms. Each bloom is approximately 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) wide, and the pedicels supporting them can be up to 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) long. The flowers exhibit a range of colors including pale pink, pink, and deep pink, and may be double or semi-double depending on the cultivar.

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Stem Features

The stem of japanese cherry is marked by medium-thick twigs that are a distinctive reddish-brown, enhanced with lenticels for gas exchange. The surface texture is relatively smooth, lending a unique tactile experience. The branching pattern is regular, and notable large buds are prominently positioned along the stems, hinting at forthcoming growth. Typically, the stems maintain a manageable thickness, making them identifiable in horticultural settings. These features collectively contribute to the plant's recognizable silhouette.

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Fruit Features

The fruit of japanese cherry is a diminutive, spherical drupe with a glossy black hue. Typically, these fruits measure about 0.3 to 0.5 inches (8-13 mm) in diameter. They mature and become noticeable in the latter part of the summer season. The drupe's flesh encompasses a hard, central stone that contains the seed. Although not prominent for their taste or size, these fruits are visually distinct, offering a contrast against the foliage of japanese cherry.

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Japanese cherry and Their Similar Plants

Sweet cherry vs. Japanese cherry: What's The Difference?

Sweet cherry is a well-known species to fruit lovers worldwide. This stone fruit varies in flavor from sweet to tart, depending on the specific cultivar. Sweet cherry is also used for lumber and is a preferred wood type for furniture.

Cherry plum vs. Japanese cherry: What's The Difference?

Cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera) is a deciduous small tree or shrub native to Southern Europe and Western Asia. It is one of the most common wild fruits of its native region, producing numerous rounded, yellow, red, or burgundy-colored sweet juicy fruit in summer and autumn. Cherry plum is also used as an ornamental tree and as rootstock for other Prunus species.

Black cherry vs. Japanese cherry: What's The Difference?

Black cherry (Prunus serotina) is a medium-sized, deciduous forest tree native to the Americas, but also naturalized in parts of Europe. It features inflorescence with small white blooms that become clusters of dark cherries, edible when pitted. Mature trees have gray-to-black, distinctly crackled bark. The glossy leaves are poisonous to livestock. It is a highly reproductive pioneer species with invasive potential.

European plum vs. Japanese cherry: What's The Difference?

Prunus domestica is a small deciduous tree and the most common orchard plum in Europe and other regions of the world. It is a hybrid species that had most likely evolved from the wild Cherry plum, Prunus cerasifera. The fruit is elongated, fleshy, and usually sweet. Dried fruits of european plum are called prunes.

Peach vs. Japanese cherry: What's The Difference?

Peach is native to Northwest China. China, Spain, and Italy are the top three producers of peaches world-wide. The peach is also the state fruit of Georgia. Peach production in the US in 2017 was valued at $599 million. The fruit has a yellow or white flesh, a sweet aroma, and a skin that is either velvety (peaches) or smooth (nectarines).

Cherry laurel vs. Japanese cherry: What's The Difference?

Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is an evergreen species of cherry, commonly cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is a shrub or a small tree with characteristic glossy, dark green leaves with a leathery texture. Leaves and seeds of cherry laurel contain toxic compounds, which can cause serious poisoning if ingested.

Common chokecherry vs. Japanese cherry: What's The Difference?

Prunus virginiana, commonly known as common chokecherry, is a deciduous small tree or suckering shrub often confused with chokeberry, due to similarities in the looks of their fruits. The fruits of both species are known for their rich antioxidant content. Common chokecherry plays an important ecological role as a larval host for numerous moth species.

Apricot vs. Japanese cherry: What's The Difference?

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) is a fruit-bearing plant species native to Asia. Although the genus name, "Prunus," means plum, the fruits of this tree are actually apricots. The seeds are occasionally used as substitutes for almonds because they share a similar shape and nutty taste. The apricot has been cultivated by humans for centuries, and was even discovered in the remains of ancient Armenian settlements.

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Key Facts About Japanese cherry

Attributes of Japanese cherry

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Tree

Plant Height

4 m to 16 m

Spread

4.5 m to 6 m

Leaf Color

Green

Flower Size

2 cm to 3 cm

Flower Color

White

Pink

Fruit Color

Black

Leaf type

Deciduous

The Toxicity of Japanese cherry

Slightly Toxic to Humans

Toxic to Dogs

Toxic to Cats

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Scientific Classification of Japanese cherry

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Roses, elms, figs, and allies

Family

Rose

Genus

Prunus

Species

Japanese cherry (Prunus serrulata)

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Distribution Map of Japanese cherry

The native range of japanese cherry is in Asia, including China and Korea, where this plant can be found growing on mountain slopes. This popular ornamental has a variety of cultivars that have been planted widely throughout the world.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

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A Comprehensive Guide to Japanese cherry How to Grow and Care for Japanese cherry