Prunus x yedoensis Shidare-Yoshino - Yoshino Cherry

Prunus x yedoensis 'Shidare-Yoshino' is a weeping cherry tree from Japan with a spread-out habit and white and fragrant flowering, spectacular in early spring before the leaves appear. Often taller than wide, this small tree with twisted branches bears countless dark pink flower buds in March-April that open into very pale pink flowers, becoming white when fully mature. Spectacular in March-April, it is splendid in autumn with its golden yellow foliage. Its moderate size and graphic silhouette make it suitable for small, urban gardens with a romantic or Japanese style, whether in the ground or in containers.

Prunus x yedoensis 'Shidare-Yoshino', belonging to the large rose family, is usually grafted. Prunus x yedoensis, from which it originates, is the result of cross-breeding between Prunus speciosa and P. subhirtella. The 'Shidare-Yoshino' cultivar is distinguished by its weeping habit, fast growth, and abundant and fragrant spring flowering. It is a deciduous tree with moderate growth, reaching an average height of 6m (19ft 8in) and a spread of 8m (26ft 2in) after 20 years of cultivation. It develops a trunk of 1.20m (3ft 11in) to 1.40m (4ft 7in), a few slightly upright main branches, and trailing branches resembling a fountain. The flowering takes place in March-April depending on the region, before the leaves appear. The flowers, gathered in small clusters and suspended by short peduncles, are single. They emerge from dark pink elongated buds and open into 5-petalled corollas, evolving from very pale pink to pure white. This flowering, with a delicate almond scent, is highly visited by bees. This sterile cultivar does not produce fruit. The deciduous foliage is composed of alternate, ovate leaves, measuring 6 to 12cm (2.4 to 4.7in) in length and 4cm (1.6in) in width, with coarsely dentate margins. The lamina is initially bright green and turns golden yellow in autumn. The smooth bark is light grey-brown, and the young branches are light brown.

Its twisted line created by sinuous branches makes the flowering cherry tree suitable for bonsai cultivation. 'Shidare-Yoshino', truly spectacular from the first beautiful days of spring, with its modest size and unique habit, is suitable for small gardens, where it will be particularly highlighted when planted as a standalone specimen or at the centre of a perennial bed where other flowers will take over from spring to summer. It can also be planted in a large container to be placed on a terrace or in an urban garden. Perfectly hardy, it can be grown in many regions but dislikes compact, clayey, and excessively moist soils, as well as overly dry conditions. When planted in a bed, it can, for example, be associated with other spring-flowering shrubs, either simultaneously or staggered, such as Forsythias, Japanese flowering quinces, hedge honeysuckle (Lonicera xylosteum), ornamental apple trees, flowering peaches, Chinese almond trees, hawthorns, Japanese apricot (Prunus mume)... A carpet of hyacinths, liverworts, or muscari in pink, white or blue would look beautiful at its base. In a Japanese garden, black Ophiopogon or Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola') would form a beautiful ground cover that enhances its unique silhouette throughout winter.