Growth form: Members of the genus can be deciduous or evergreen. Some species are small (25-40 feet) while others are medium (50 feet) to large (up to 100 feet).
Leaves, twigs, and bark: Leaves are usually deciduous, however some are evergreen. Some Prunus that lose their leaves have a orange-peach color in the fall. Leaves are simple, alternate, long and shaped like a lance tip, wider in the middle, and unlobed. Twigs are slender, reddish-brown, sometimes gray-brown. Bark is generally thin, smooth, shiny and reddish to bronze in appearance with horizontal lenticels.
Leaves of Flowering Cherry #1009, showing simple, alternate leaf arrangement, and lance-shape. (Photo by Miranda Flack 10/24/2019)
Showing the shiny, coppery-colored bark of Flowering Cherry tree. (Creative Commons Image. "Prunus haackii (Manchurian Cherry)" by Plant Image Library)
Flowers: Flowers typically white, sometimes pink, and usually have 5 petals. More than 5 petals are known as "double". Some flowers, like the ones found on Laurels, are in spikes. Fragrant is usually sweet. Flowering Cherry trees usually bloom in late March through April.
Fleshy fruit (aka "drupe") of Prunus tree (Creative Commons Image, "DSCN5820" by skrubtudse)
Fruits: The fruit is round, fleshy, single seeded and usually edible.
Clusters of pink flowers on Prunus tree (Creative Commons Image. "2009.04.22_18.33.42_CIMG0425" by andrey_zharkikh)
Native range and habitat: Flowering Cherry trees are native to China and Japan. They are planted ornamentally in the US in USDA Hardiness zones 5 & 6. Some species can survive in zones 3-9.
Distribution of Flowering Cherry across the United States (Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation 2019).
Plant Family: Flowering Cherries are in the Rosaceae family. This family includes herbs, shrubs, and trees. Most species are deciduous, however some are evergreen. Leaves are usually arranged spirally, however opposite and alternate arrangements occur in some species. The leaves can either be simple or pinnately compound. The margin is often serrate (toothed). Flowers are described as "showy" and have radial symmetry. Fruits can be follicles, capsules, nuts, achenes, drupes, and accessory fruits. Many fruits are edible, however the seeds often contain a compound which can release cyanide during digestion.
Ecologic Importance and Uses:
Edible and Medicinal Uses: The seeds and fruits of many Prunus are used in processing for jam, canning, drying and roasting.
Wildlife: Fruits of Flowering Cherry trees are utilized as food sources by birds and mammals in the fall.The fragrant and showy flowers attract bird and insect pollinators in the spring.
Gardens and Landscaping: Flowering Cherries are widely used in landscaping and can be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9. Flowering Cherries are popular in gardens and landscaping because they require minimal care. Ornamental cherry trees can tolerate a wide range of soil types and pH levels, however they will grow best in moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Flowering Cherry trees are susceptible to insect and fungal damage. Fungicide can be used to treat many fungal diseases. Flowering Cherries generally do not suffer damage from deer, according to Rutgers University.
Campus Specimens - Flowering Cherry Trees
State and national champions? The Virginia state champion Japanese flowering cherry, Prunus serrulata, in Virginia is in Loudoun county. The trunk circumference of this tree is 139 inches, height is 35 feet, and crown spread is 57 feet. These measurements result in a total of 188 points. There is no reported national champion for Japanese flowering cherry trees.
At Radford University, 30 Prunus species can be found on campus. Row of Flowering Cherries #1009-1011 between The Bonnie and the Student Recreation and Wellness Center can be seen highlighted in the white circle below. Flowering Cherries #941 and #942 can be seen in the quad to the South-West of The Bonnie.
Tree #941
Trunk circumference: 11.8 inches
Tree height: 12.5 feet
Crown spread: 7.4 feet x 4.9 feet Average = 6.2 feet
Total points: 25.8
Notes: This is a healthy, but small and fairly young tree. It is located in the quad between the Bonnie and Cook Hall.
Tree #942
Trunk circumference: 11.0 inches
Tree height: 14.3 feet
Crown spread: 7.4 feet x 6.3 feet Average crown spread = 6.9 feet
Total points: 27.0
Notes: This is a fairly small, young tree. It is located in the quad between the Bonnie and Cook Hall.
Tree #1009
Trunk circumference: 12.6 inches
Tree height: 13.5 feet
Crown spread: 6.2 feet x 5.6 feet Average crown spread = 5.9 feet
Total points: 27.6
Notes: This is a fairly young tree. It is located between the Bonnie and the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
Tree #1010
Trunk circumference: 12.5 inches
Tree height: 13.0 feet
Crown spread: 6.5 feet x 4.0 feet Average crown spread = 5.2 feet
Total points: 26.8
Notes: This small, young tree is located between #1009 and #1011, which are found between the Bonnie and the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
Tree #1011
Trunk circumference: 12.9 inches
Tree height: 14.7 feet
Crown spread: 6.0 feet x 4.3 feet Average crown spread = 5.1 feet
Total points: 28.9
Notes: This small, young tree is located between the Bonnie and the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
References
Elpel, T. J. (2018). Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification, Edition 6.1. Hops Press, Pony, MT.