|
GARDENER'S
READING ROOM
The Art of Gardening
Trees
& Shrubs
Flowering
Cherries . . . Aristocratic Symbol of Spring
Nothing
heralds the awakening we call spring more than the glory of
Flowering Cherries. Revered in aristocrats’ gardens
for over twelve centuries in Japan, subject of poetry and
paintings, they are now loved the world over. Let me introduce
a few that grow gloriously here in the Northwest.
The
earliest bloomers are Akebono,
Accolade, and
Yoshino. Akebono
is the first, with its delicate, pale pink, single blooms.
Accolade, a
hybrid, presents itself with large double pink flowers right
after Akebono.
Both are quite manageable at about 20 by 20 feet. The larger
Yoshino has
delicate almond-scented blooms.
 |
| Photo
courtesy of Carlton Plants |
Next
come the real show stoppers. These varieties have the largest
flowers, and branches can literally disappear under the spring
show! Shirofugen
stands out as my favorite. Fragrant double flowers open pink
and fade to white. You will also enjoy its broad, spreading
habit and orange-red fall show. Its wide, open form gets about
25 feet tall and wide on a full size tree, about 12-14 feet
for the dwarf variety. A similar showstopper is fragrant white
Shirotae -
Mount Fuji
to us Westerners. Mt. Fuji
has a bit more horizontal branching and lends itself well
to pruning for shape. If you love pure white, Mount
Fuji is the tree for you. Kwanzan,
on the other hand, offers deep rose-pink blooms. A rather
tall (up to 30 feet), narrow, vase-shaped tree, Kwanzan
is thought to be the most popular of all cherries for its
intense pink blooms, bronzy new foliage, and orange fall color.
 Want
a cherry, but you’re short on room? Don’t weep
- get a weeper! Sky carries two noteworthy varieties. Double
Pink Weeping Cherry can be pruned to an umbrella
form or let grow to form a rambling weeping form. Its double
pink flowers are small, but profuse and fragrant. If you let
it ramble, expect it to grow to 12-15 feet. For a real space
saver, try Snow Fountain
- the name says it all. Only 10-12 feet tall, its snow-white
flowers are single and delicate. Snow
Fountain can be used as an accent in a planting
bed.
If
you have sunshine and fairly well drained soil, I highly recommend
treating yourself to the aristocrat of spring-flowering trees,
the cherry. See you for the awakening color show!
By Bill Bloomfield, CPH
Skylights Spring 2005, Vol 19, No. 1
Other
articles on the art of gardening
Other
articles on trees & shrubs
|
