Sakura, or Japanese flowering cherry trees, are known for their breathtaking pink and white blossoms that draw millions of admirers worldwide. A common question arises when the flowers fade: do these celebrated trees produce the sweet, plump cherries found in grocery stores? The simple answer is that the ornamental trees responsible for the spectacular spring bloom are generally not the source of edible fruit.
The Key Distinction: Ornamental vs. Fruiting Species
The difference between a tree that produces a dazzling flower show and one that yields consumable fruit lies in centuries of selective breeding. Fruiting cherry varieties, such as the sweet cherry (Prunus avium) and the tart cherry (Prunus cerasus), are cultivated for their ability to produce large, fleshy, and flavorful drupes. Horticulturalists focus on traits like sugar content, size, and disease resistance. Conversely, ornamental Sakura trees, often species like Prunus serrulata or various hybrids, are bred solely for the aesthetic qualities of their blossoms.
This focus on floral display means the trees prioritize flower production over fruit development. Many popular ornamental cultivars, such as ‘Kanzan,’ feature dense, multi-petaled or “double” flowers. This double-flowering trait often causes the reproductive parts of the flower, which would normally develop into fruit, to be replaced by extra petals, rendering the flower sterile.
The Shared Family: Understanding the Genus Prunus
The confusion over the fruit-bearing capacity of Sakura trees stems from their shared botanical classification with fruiting species. Both ornamental and edible cherries belong to the large genus Prunus, which encompasses a wide array of stone fruits, including plums, apricots, and almonds.
Because they share a common ancestor within the Prunus genus, all these trees exhibit similar characteristics, such as distinctive bark texture, leaf shape, and general tree structure. However, the various species and cultivars within Prunus have evolved to specialize in different outcomes. While sweet cherries were bred for their juicy pulp, Sakura trees were bred to maximize the size, color, and longevity of their flowers. This shared ancestry explains the superficial similarities, but specialized breeding dictates the final product.
Fruit Production on Sakura Trees
While the ornamental cherry trees seen in public parks are not intended to produce human-edible fruit, many varieties can still produce small, technical fruits. These small structures are scientifically known as drupes and are typically less than half an inch (8–10 mm) in diameter. The fruit that does appear on some ornamental trees is usually highly sour or bitter, containing very little flesh around a large pit. This fruit is a byproduct of the tree’s focus on elaborate floral structures.
The tree channels its metabolic energy into producing showy, often double, blossoms instead of developing a large, sugary fruit. For example, the wild species Prunus serrulata produces a pea-sized black drupe called sakuranbo, which is bitter and rarely consumed. Furthermore, many widely planted ornamental cultivars are sterile due to hybridization, meaning they may not produce any fruit at all. If fruit is present, it is generally considered a food source for birds.
Visual Cues for Identification
Distinguishing an ornamental Sakura from a fruiting cherry tree can be done by observing a few key visual differences, particularly during the blooming season. Ornamental trees are often identifiable by their flowers, which frequently feature multiple layers of petals, creating a fluffy, dense double blossom. Fruiting cherry trees, by contrast, typically produce simpler, single-layer blossoms with only five petals.
The general shape of the tree also offers a clue. Fruiting trees are often pruned heavily to keep the fruit within reach, resulting in a more managed canopy. Ornamental varieties, such as ‘Kanzan’ or ‘Yoshino’ cherries, are allowed to grow into their natural, often taller, wide-spreading, or vase-like forms.