Cherry blossom trees are highly desired ornamental additions that transform any landscape into a springtime haven. Successfully integrating a cherry tree requires thoughtful consideration of the variety, the source of the tree, and proper planting techniques. This guide navigates the purchasing process, ensuring the tree you select is healthy and destined to thrive in your specific environment.
Selecting the Right Cherry Tree Variety
The first step in acquiring a cherry tree is determining which species is best suited for your climate and space. Popular ornamental varieties, such as the Yoshino and Kwanzan cherry, offer distinct characteristics in bloom and form. The Yoshino cherry (Prunus × yedoensis) has a graceful, spreading canopy and early-season, fragrant blossoms that appear nearly white, often with a faint pink blush. This variety is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8 and reaches a mature height of 40 to 50 feet.
In contrast, the Kwanzan cherry (Prunus serrulata) creates a bolder, later-season display with vibrant, deep pink, double-flowered blossoms. These dense, multi-petaled blooms make a striking visual impact, and the tree thrives in zones 5 through 9, often growing slightly shorter and wider than the Yoshino. Weeping cherry varieties, like the Weeping Higan (Prunus subhirtella var. pendula), provide a different architectural element with cascading branches that produce curtains of pink or white flowers.
The primary consideration is your local climate, determined by your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone. Selecting a variety not rated for your zone’s minimum winter temperatures will likely result in tree failure. Beyond cold tolerance, ensure your location offers at least six hours of direct sunlight daily and has well-draining soil. Cherry trees are intolerant of standing water, which can lead to root rot.
Local and Online Sources for Purchase
Once a suitable variety is selected, the next decision is where to purchase the tree. Local, independent garden centers are excellent sources because they carry stock acclimated to the regional climate and soil conditions. Staff at these nurseries possess specialized knowledge about local growing challenges and can offer tailored advice. Local nurseries often feature a wider selection of unique cultivars, and the trees are generally larger and more established than those sold online.
Large chain home improvement stores offer convenience and competitive pricing, but the quality of the plant stock can fluctuate, as the trees may not receive consistent, expert care.
Online and mail-order nurseries specialize in a broader range of varieties, including rare ones not stocked locally. They often ship bare-root stock, which is more affordable and establishes faster than containerized trees. Bare-root trees are shipped while dormant and without soil, requiring immediate planting upon arrival to prevent the roots from drying out. Containerized trees are more expensive and bulky to ship but offer the flexibility of being planted throughout a longer season.
What to Look for When Purchasing
Regardless of the source, a careful inspection of the tree specimen is necessary to ensure long-term health. For containerized trees, gently slide the tree out of its pot to examine the root ball. The root ball should not be a dense mass of roots tightly circling the perimeter. Circling or “girdling” roots are a serious defect that can slowly strangle the tree and must be pruned before planting.
If the trunk enters the soil like a straight pole without the characteristic flare at the base, it may have been planted too deeply in the container. Planting too deeply is a common cause of failure.
The trunk and branches should be free of visible damage, cracks, or signs of disease. Avoid any tree exhibiting sap leakage, known as gummosis, which can be a symptom of bacterial canker or other diseases in Prunus species.
Look for healthy, plump, and evenly spaced buds along the branches, which indicate good vitality, especially when purchasing a dormant tree. If the tree is grafted, the graft union—where the variety meets the rootstock—should be fully healed and free of oozing sap or excessive overgrowth.
Receiving and Initial Planting Success
The steps taken immediately after receiving your tree are important for its survival. If you have purchased a bare-root specimen, the roots must be rehydrated promptly by soaking them in water for 6 to 24 hours before planting. The ideal time for planting is during the dormant season, either in early spring before buds break or in late fall after leaves drop, to minimize transplant shock.
Proper planting technique begins with digging a hole two to three times wider than the root ball or the spread of the bare roots, but no deeper. The width is important because cherry trees have shallow, spreading root systems that need loose soil to extend laterally. Placing the tree too deep is the most common planting error, as this suffocates the roots and encourages girdling.
The root flare, where the trunk visibly widens before transitioning into the roots, must be positioned at or slightly above the surrounding soil level. After positioning the tree, backfill the hole with the original soil, gently tamping it to remove air pockets. Water the tree thoroughly immediately after planting to settle the soil and provide initial moisture. Consistent watering throughout the first year is necessary to encourage root establishment, ensuring the soil remains moist but never waterlogged.