The desire to cultivate a cherry blossom tree, celebrated for its spectacular spring display and cultural significance, is a common goal for many gardeners. Successfully acquiring a specimen that will thrive requires understanding the marketplace and the physical health of the plant. This involves navigating different retail channels, selecting the right tree format, and performing a thorough inspection to ensure long-term viability. This guide details the most reliable methods for obtaining a healthy cherry blossom tree.
Primary Retail Channels
Local and independent nurseries offer a reliable source for cherry trees, often providing cultivars adapted to the local climate and soil conditions. Staff typically possess horticultural expertise and can offer personalized advice on variety selection and planting care. While prices may be higher, the quality assurance and localized knowledge can prevent costly replacement issues.
Online and mail-order specialists provide access to a significantly broader selection of cherry blossom varieties, including rare or specialized cultivars. These companies ship smaller, often bare-root, trees directly to the customer, requiring careful handling and inspection upon arrival. Purchasing from a reputable online nursery is a good strategy when seeking a specific, hard-to-find Prunus species or ornamental cultivar.
Conversely, big box stores and general garden centers offer convenience and often lower prices, especially during the spring season. However, the plant quality can be inconsistent, and the selection often favors common, widely-available varieties. Shoppers should exercise greater scrutiny, as the trees may have received less specialized care or may not be ideally suited for all local growing zones.
Choosing the Right Tree Format
Cherry blossom trees are typically available in three main formats, each dictating a different planting timeline and level of initial care.
Bare-Root
Bare-root trees are sold dormant, without soil around their roots, and are the most economical option for shipping. They must be planted immediately in late winter or early spring before they break dormancy to ensure successful establishment.
Container-Grown
Container-grown trees are cultivated in pots with their root system intact and can be planted almost any time the ground is not frozen, offering the most flexibility. When selecting these, check for roots that are tightly circling the inside of the pot, an issue that can restrict future growth if not corrected during planting. This format is the most popular choice for general home landscaping.
Balled and Burlapped (B&B)
The third format, balled and burlapped (B&B), involves trees that have been field-grown and then dug up with a large soil ball wrapped in burlap and wire. These specimens are usually larger and more mature, providing an instant landscape effect. B&B trees require careful handling and often suffer from greater transplant shock due to the significant loss of fine feeder roots during the digging process.
Essential Health Checks Before Purchase
A thorough inspection of the tree before purchase is critical for long-term success. Begin by examining the root system, which is the primary indicator of tree health. For container-grown trees, gently slide the tree out of its pot to check for firm, white root tips and ensure the roots are not excessively circling the root ball, which can lead to future girdling.
Next, inspect the trunk and the root flare, which is the base of the trunk where it widens. The root flare should be visible and not buried deep in the soil, as planting too deeply can lead to suffocating the roots and increasing the risk of disease. Look for any signs of gummosis—the oozing of a sticky, amber-colored sap—which is often a symptom of bacterial canker or another internal stressor in Prunus species.
The branch structure should be evaluated for balance and vigor, looking for healthy, prominent buds and an absence of dead wood. Narrow crotch angles, where branches meet the trunk at a sharp V-shape, are weak points prone to splitting and can collect water, making the tree vulnerable to bacterial canker infections.
Finally, check the leaves, if present, for any discoloration. Look for dark spots indicative of leaf spot fungus, or white, powdery patches that signal powdery mildew.
Propagating Cherry Trees From Cuttings
For the enthusiastic gardener, propagation from cuttings is a viable alternative to buying a sapling. This method ensures the new tree will be genetically identical to the parent tree, maintaining the specific characteristics of the desired cultivar. Growing a tree from a cutting is more predictable than growing from seed, which often yields a hybrid with unpredictable traits.
The most successful method involves taking softwood cuttings, which are sections of the tender, new growth from the current season. This is best done in late spring or early summer when the wood is flexible but not yet fully hardened. After taking the 6- to 12-inch cutting, the base is often dipped in a rooting hormone powder to stimulate root production.
The prepared cuttings are then inserted into a well-draining rooting medium, such as a mix of peat moss and perlite, and kept in a warm, humid environment. While this process takes longer than planting a purchased tree, it is a rewarding way to multiply a favorite cherry blossom variety. Success relies on maintaining consistent moisture and providing indirect sunlight until the cutting develops a robust root system.