Cherry trees bring showers of flowers
Weeping ornamentals put on a spectacular show
Sometimes it’s neither the flowers nor the foliage that is the star attraction of a plant but its form. This is brilliantly demonstrated by three weeping ornamental cherry trees: Prunus serrulata ‘Snow Fountains’; Prunus Weeping Extraordinaire™; and Prunus subhirtella var. pendula. Ornamental cherry trees, which line many streets throughout the Bay Area, are among the first to bloom, often starting in early February as the weather warms. They are nature’s way of saying, “Spring isn’t too far off now.” Not only are the trees smothered in delicate pink or white flowers but they have a subtle and pleasing aroma as well.
Our three weeping trees take all that and add to it in the form of an an eye-catching 12-foot or 25-foot high “waterfall” of cascading branches that will, in time, touch the ground. When in bloom, they create a 360degree curtain of flowers, making them some of the most spectacular blooming trees in North America and Asia.
The various forms of Prunus serrulata hail from Japan, Korea and China, whereas Prunus subhirtella forms are indigenous to Japan. These trees are intimately bound up with Japanese culture and customs. Indeed, annual Cherry Blossom Festivals bloom in Japanese American communities across the United States each spring, from Washington, D.C., to the Bay Area. (San Francisco’s annual festival and parade are scheduled on two weekends, April 14-15 and 21-22.)
The weeping forms of ornamental cherries make for particularly striking specimens. They are popular choices for the center of a yard, where they become the star attraction. Some gardeners choose a complementary, low-growing bed of flowers underneath, while others like the look of patio pavers or similar stonework circling the tree.
Bees will soon find your flowering cherry, as they are irresistibly drawn to its sweet scent. Hummingbirds too may be regular visitors, zooming in and out for a taste of nectar. And as the flowers appear just a step ahead of the leaves, the showers of pink flowers from these three star ornamentals are particularly dazzling.
One notable feature of these weeping cherries is that their delicate, dark green leaves turn golden and orange in the fall, showing off one final element of their beauty.