Sakura Japanese Cherry Blossom Tree Planting Zone

Sargent Cherry

• The Sargent cherry (Prunus sargentii) produces sakura in early to mid-spring at the same time most daffodils bloom. The pale pink flowers appear before the leaves unfurl. Sargent cherry grows 20 to 30 feet tall and equally wide. Grow it in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 7. In the American West, where the USDA zones are difficult to interpret in the variable elevation changes, "Sunset" magazine climate zones are more accurately used for plant hardiness. Plant Sargent cherries in climate zones 2 through 7 and 14 through 17.

Japanese Flowering Cherry

• Also called Oriental cherry, Japanese flowering cherry (Prunus serrulata) bears rose pink to pale pink blossoms in mid-spring, later than Sargent cherries. Often the bronze-green new leaves are just beginning to appear as the tree's branches are loaded with flowers. In Japan's climate, this tree species matures 50 to 75 feet tall and 30 feet wide. In the United States, numerous diseases and pests afflict the tree and its numerous cultivars. Expect trees to live for no more than 15 years, getting only 20 to 30 tall at most. Grow them in USDA zones 5 through 8 or Sunset climate zones 3 through 7 and 14 through 20.

Higan Cherry

• Displaying sakura at the same time as Sargent cherries, and also a long-lived tree, the Higan cherry (Prunus subhirtella) is more tolerant of hot summers. Higan cherry blossoms are pale pink to white and appear before the leaves. Trees mature 20 to 40 feet tall and 15 to 40 feet wide. Grow Higan cherry trees in USDA zones 4b through 9a or Sunset climate zones 2 through 7 and 14 through 20. Higan cherries are among the best flowering cherries for the Deep South.

Yoshino Cherry

• Created by the Japanese in the mid-19th century by hybridizing two other species of native cherry, the Yoshino cherry (Prunus x yedoensis) is perhaps the most famous cherry tree in the United States as it lines the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. Sakura for this tree involves white flowers, sometimes faintly pink when they first open on the bare branches in early spring. Yoshino cherries bloom a week or two earlier than Higan and Sargent cherries. Grow Yoshino cherry trees in USDA zones 5 through 8 and Sunset climate zones 3 through 7 and 14 through 20.