Prunus serrulata Amanogawa - Japanese Cherry

Prunus serrulata 'Amanogawa' is a variety of Japanese cherry tree or flowering cherry known and appreciated for its narrow habit and its beautiful pale pink to white spring flowering. Although it does not produce fruit, this prunus offers beautiful orange autumn foliage. It is a small hardy and undemanding tree, ideal for small gardens.

Prunus serrulata, belonging to the large family of Rosaceae, is a small tree with a dense canopy and thin bark, native to Asia, specifically Japan, Korea, and China. It is also known as Japanese cherry tree, Hill cherry tree, Japanese flowering cherry, or Oriental cherry tree. The cultivar 'Amanogawa' is a well-known horticultural selection. This Prunus shows fairly slow growth and a narrow, upright, and columnar habit for several years. Its branches are tightly pressed against the trunk. Mature specimens have a more spreading canopy. Ultimately, the tree can reach a height of 6m and a width of 1.50 to 1.75m (5 to 8ft). Its spring flowering, abundant from April to May, produces beautiful pale pink to white flowers, 4cm (1.6in) in diameter, semi-double to single. They are lightly scented but very attractive to bees. These flowers appear just before the leaves, along the secondary branches. Its foliage displays different colours depending on the seasons: the young shoots are bronze-yellow, the leaves are green in spring and summer, and then turn yellow and orange in autumn before falling. They are ovate and finely dentate at the edges. Hardy down to -15°C, the Prunus serrulata 'Amanogawa' thrives in very sunny locations. Plant it in neutral pH soil (it also tolerates slightly chalky soils), which is moist but not too dry in summer.

Isolated on a lawn or at the centre of a flower bed, this Prunus 'Amanogawa' will attract attention with its magnificent spring flowering. Compact, this charming tree is perfect for small gardens. Plant spring bulbs, perennials, and small bushes with staggered flowering at its base. Or simply plant silver basket, forget-me-nots, discreet and spontaneous flowers that will not overshadow its splendor. One could also imagine planting a small climbing herbaceous clematis in pink or blue to brighten its foliage in summer: Alpine clematis, 'Blue River', 'Jessica'...