One of the longest-lived cherries, it prefers full sun, moist, well-drained soil. It is an upright tree that spreads as it matures. It tolerates summer heat, winter cold and clay soil better than other cherries. Plant it as a specimen tree, in small groups, in a lawn, park, or along a street, This tree is frequently damaged by deer. This tree is generally not sold commercially and most of the trees sold under the name Higan Cherry are actually cultivars with ‘Autumnalis Rosea' being popular. The cultivars are generally shorter with showier flowers and weeping forms are available. Higan cherry is generally considered to have good disease resistance, but like all cherries, it is susceptible to many insects and diseases. More information on Prunus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Often confused withPrunus x subhirtella 'Autumnalis'Prunus x subhirtella 'Pendula'
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in. | Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Doubly Serrate
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
2" to 4" alternate simple, ovate to lanceolate doubly serrate margins, cuneate base, acuminate apex with glands at the base of the petiole. Yellowish fall color
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Clusters of 0.5" white to pinkish 5 petaled flowers in early spring
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit detail
Pea-sized oval black drupe
Bark color
Dark Brown; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
Shiny reddish-brown bark with prominent lenticels.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Japan
Wildlife value
Nectar from the flowers attract bees.
Attracts
Bees
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Drupe
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Flowering Tree; Small groups; Specimen; Street Tree
Garden tags
#deciduous #flowering tree #parks #black fruits #street tree #specimen #problem for dogs #problem for horses #problem for cats #lawn planting #bee friendly #small groups
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses