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Yoshino Cherry

Prunus × yedoensis

The Cloud of Spring: Prunus × yedoensis (Yoshino Cherry)


The Snapshot

  • Common Name: Yoshino Cherry, Tokyo Cherry

  • Scientific Name: Prunus × yedoensis

  • Origin: Japan (A natural hybrid discovered in the 19th century)

  • Hardiness: Zones 5 – 8

  • The "Vibe": Poetic, luminous, and iconic; the "graceful elder" of the cherry family.

Why It’s a Global Legend

  • The "White-to-Pink" Glow: Yoshino flowers are single-petaled and emerge a very pale pink, quickly fading to a luminous, snowy white. From a distance, a mature tree looks like a low-hanging cloud or a drift of snow.

  • The Scent: Unlike many ornamental cherries that have no fragrance, Yoshino has a distinct, delicate almond scent that wafts through the garden on warm April afternoons.

  • The Architecture: It has a graceful, spreading, and slightly arching habit. As it ages, the branches become dark and gnarled, providing a stunning winter silhouette.

  • Glossy Foliage: After the flowers drop, the tree fills out with dark green leaves that provide excellent shade. In the fall, they turn a subtle but pretty yellow-to-bronze.

Designer Tips: Where to Plant

  • The Water’s Edge: There is nothing more iconic than a Yoshino Cherry reflected in a pond or pool. The white blossoms against blue water is the ultimate Zen aesthetic.

  • The Driveway Sentinel: Plant them in a row to create a high-canopy "tunnel" of white. Because they spread wide, they create a sense of scale and grandeur.

  • The Moon Garden: Because the flowers are so white and luminous, they are spectacular at dusk. Plant them near an outdoor seating area for magical spring evenings.

Designer Pro-Tip: The Yoshino is a "high-branching" tree, meaning it is much easier to walk under than the vase-shaped 'Kanzan'. This makes it the superior choice if you want to plant a "spring carpet" of Bulbs or Pachysandra underneath it.


Ecosystem & Wildlife Impact

  • Pollinator Feast: Because the flowers are single-petaled, the nectar and pollen are much more accessible to Honeybees and Native Pollinators than double-flowered varieties.

  • Songbird Summer: While it doesn't produce fruit for humans, it does produce tiny, bitter black berries that Robins and Waxwings absolutely adore in early summer.

  • Larval Host: Like most Prunus, it is a host plant for the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and various moths.

Stories from the Garden

"I planted a Yoshino in my front yard five years ago, and it has already become the neighborhood landmark. When it's in full bloom, people actually stop their cars to take pictures. It smells like almonds and looks like a dream. It’s the closest thing to living in a painting."

— David L., Zone 7 Gardener (Montclair, NJ)

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