The Ornamental Cherry – A Beauty Without Starry Pretensions

The beauty of the ornamental cherry is so well-known worldwide that the cherry blossom festival is now celebrated not only in Japan, China, and Korea. No wonder, as cherry blossoms bring spring into the gardens.
With over 400 different species, they are popular worldwide and known for their unique flowers. And although beauty usually comes at a cost, the ornamental cherry is very undemanding and easy to care for.

The ornamental cherry is a deciduous tree that can grow between 3 and 8 meters tall. The over 400 different species vary in size, shape, and especially in their flowers: each species has a different color and shape of blossoms. The flowers of ornamental cherries bloom between early April and May, marking the arrival of spring with a colorful display. As if that weren't enough, many ornamental cherries also develop a vibrant red or yellow color in the fall. For those seeking even more color in the garden, the mirror-barked cherry offers a tree with mahogany-colored bark. When the ornamental cherries shed their leaves at the end of the blooming period, it looks as though it is snowing.

Anyone who brings an ornamental cherry into their garden is likely to make very few mistakes. Although particularly beautiful plants are usually more maintenance-intensive, this is not the case with the ornamental cherry. Ornamental cherries prefer a clayey, deep, and humus-rich soil and, like all other plants, cannot tolerate waterlogging. While ornamental cherries love sunny spots and can never seem to get enough sun, they also thrive in partial shade. Ornamental cherries can be purchased as specimen plants and are very easy to plant in one's own garden. To help the ornamental cherry get through the summer, it appreciates an extra watering on hot days. Pruning is only needed if the shape is not to your liking. Old and diseased branches can be cut back in the spring and autumn.

If you love ornamental cherries but don’t have a large garden or any garden space at all, you don’t have to miss out on these beauties. Nowadays, there are many new cultivars that remain small, making them perfect for balconies and terraces. If there isn’t enough room for the impressive carnation cherry, the Japanese column cherry or the weeping carnation cherry can be an excellent alternative. Gates, arches, and pathways can be beautifully framed with the steppe cherry, and for those with ample space in their garden, a carnation cherry is a must-have. However, ornamental cherries do need enough space to grow well and, most importantly, to showcase their full beauty.