1. Size

How big do you want your tree to grow? The size of the cherry blossom you choose is dependent on how much space you have, and where you’d like to plant it.

UP TO 5M

If space is no object, go for a large, upright variety like Accolade, Amanogawa, Kanzan (pink) Pink Perfection, Royal Burgundy or Tai-Haku (White).

UP TO 3.5M

Coming in at a slightly more compact 2.5 -3.5m, these varieties are ideal for the medium sized garden: Autumnalis, Autumnalis Rosea, Tibetan Cherry, The Bride and Weeping Yoshino.

UP TO 2.5M

For smaller gardens we would recommend Kiku-shidare Zakura (also known as Cheal’s Weeping), Collingwood Ingram or Albertii.

UP TO 1.5M

For pots or smaller spaces choose a variety like Kojo-No-Mai, Little Pink Perfection or the dwarf weeping variety Ivensii, which will all grow to a very compact size of less than 1.5m.

2. Shape

UPRIGHT OR VASE SHAPED TREES

Vase shaped trees have a central trunk with branches that sweep into an upright, arching shape that is widest at the top. Vase shaped cherry blossoms include Pink Perfection, Little Pink Perfection, Tibetan Cherry and Royal Burgundy. They’re perfect for gardens and walkways because they allow headroom to walk or sit under them, while still providing shade. Upright trees have a less formal looking crown, with dense, spreading branches which are often hidden under clouds of blossom in the spring! Kanzan, Snow Goose and Plena are all examples.

COLUMNAR OR FASTIGIATE TREES

If you’re looking to fill a narrow space, you need a columnar tree. These are tall and very thin, with upright branches - for example, the ‘flagpole’ cherry blossom Amanogawa has a mature height of 3-5m with a width of under 1m, allowing you to plant several of them close together. Other columnar varieties include Crimson Pointe and Felix Jury.

UMBRELLA TREES

This is the classic cherry blossom shape, with high branches spreading to form a canopy - perfect for the Japanese custom of Hanami, in which people gather beneath the trees with friends, food and drink to admire the blossom.

Accolade, Autumnalis, Autumnalis Rosea, Kojo-No-Mai, Nigra, Tai-Haku, Shirofugen, The Bride and Yoshino are all classic Umbrella shaped trees.

WEEPING TREES

Weeping trees have long, flexible branches that hang downwards - some reaching the ground. There are some beautiful weeping varieties of Cherry Blossom which will retain a compact form, making them easy to prune.

Kiku-Shidare-Zakura, Single Pink Weeping and Ivensii.

3. Flower Colour

Ornamental cherries have arguably the best blossom of any flowering tree, so you really can’t choose badly. Their flowers have a wide range of tones from snow white to bright pink and often change throughout their flowering period. Many cherry blossom flowers start off dark pink and open to a lighter pink, then turn to pale pink or white as they mature. The Shirofugen variety even changes completely from white to pink throughout the season!

WHITE

Autumnalis, Kojo-No-Mai, Himalayan Cherry, Tibetan Cherry, Tai-Haku, The Bride, Blushing Bride, Yoshino

PALE PINK

Accolade, Amanogawa, Autumnalis Rosea, Kurilensis Ruby, Hokusai, Nigra

DARKER PINK

Kanzan, Kiku-shidare-zakura, Okame, Collingwood Ingram, Royal Burgundy

4. Flower Shape

There are four types of cherry blossom flowers, based on the number of petals they have. A flower can have anything from 5-300 petals in a single bloom! In Japan, the simpler forms are preferred, and the most popular cherry blossom variety is Yoshino, which has five petals per bloom.

SINGLE FLOWERS

Yoshino, Weeping Yoshino, Kojo-no-mai, Nigra, Himalayan Cherry, Tibetan Cherry, Snow Goose, Tai-haku, The Bride, Single Pink Weeping, Okame, Kurilensis Ruby

SEMI DOUBLE FLOWERS

Accolade, Amanogawa, Autumnlais, Autumnalis Rosea, Hokusai, Yukon

DOUBLE FLOWERS

Kanzan, Pink Perfection, Little Pink Perfection, Plena, Royal Burgundy, Shirofugen, Blushing Bride.

CHRYSANTHEMUMS

Kiku-shidare-zakura