In honor of the 100th anniversary of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, we are featuring one of the varieties that made the tree a symbol of the District of Columbia.
The Yoshino Cherry tree grows quickly, reaching heights of 20 ft. or more. Its branching habit is upright to horizontal, which makes it well suited to planting along walks in the nation’s capital. It features white to pink flowers that bloom in early spring before the leaves develop. In the home landscape, it is often used as a specimen tree or shade tree. It is not suited to planting near streets or parking lots because it is sensitive to drought. It needs good drainage in an acidic soil for optimum growth. It should be located in full sun to maintain a balanced crown habit.
Image courtesy of the National Park Service.
