Prunus serrulata Tai haku - Japanese Cherry

Prunus serrulata 'Taihaku', also known as the ‘Tai-Haku’ Flowering Cherry or the ‘Great White Cherry’ Japanese Cherry, is a vigorous cultivar that stands out for its spectacular spring flowering. In spring, its branches are covered with particularly large flowers ranging from pale pink to snow white. They transform its broadly spreading crown, as does its autumn foliage. Consider the span of this tree before adopting it in your garden, as it can reach up to 8 metres!

Belonging to the Rosaceae family, Prunus serrulata 'Tai haku' is native to Japan and was rediscovered in England in the early 20th century. It descends from the Prunus serrulata, a small tree with a dense crown and fine bark native to Asia, specifically Japan, Korea, and China. This species is also known as the Japanese Cherry, Hill Cherry, Japanese Flowering Cherry, or Eastern Cherry.

The cultivar 'Tai haku' exhibits rapid growth. This small tree forms a short trunk topped with a fan-shaped crown, becoming wide and spreading over time. Ultimately, it will reach between 5 and 7 m in height with a width of 7 to 8 m. Flowering occurs during the last two weeks of April, taking the form of light pink flower buds that open into flowers 5 to 6 cm in diameter, initially pink and turning pure white. This nectar-rich and honey-producing flowering often occurs before the leaves appear. The young, reddish-brown leaves turn dark green in summer. They are very large elliptical leaves with a toothed edge that can measure up to 16 cm long and 10 cm wide. In autumn, they are adorned with magnificent yellow and orange hues. This variety rarely produces fruit.

The Hill Cherry 'Tai haku', with a strong personality, will naturally find its place either in isolation or aligned along a wide pathway. It can also be planted at the back of a perennial bed or behind small flowering bushes with staggered bloom times. To adorn its base, use silver basket (Cerastium), a small creeping clematis (Clematis jouiniana 'Robert Brydon') or bluebells that will not overshadow its splendour. One might also consider planting a small pink clematis to brighten its foliage in summer (Clematis 'Little Mermaid', Josephine).

Prunus serrulata 'Tai haku' was considered extinct in Japan. In 1930, it existed only in an old painting. The English captain and botanist Collingwood 'Cherry' Ingram, while examining this canvas, recognised the exceptionally large flower he had admired on an old tree in Sussex, England. This subject turned out to be a specimen of the sadly missed cultivar introduced from Japan in 1899. By propagating it, Collingwood Ingram was able to save the Prunus serrulata 'Tai haku' and reintroduce it to Japan as well as around the world.