Prunus serrulata 'Shirofugen'

Sunset

Zones 3-7, 14-20, 32-34

Full

Moderate

Flowering cherry
Rosaceae
Trees

PRUNUS

This rich genus includes everything from English laurel to flowering apricots, cherries, peaches, and plums. (For edible varieties, see individual listings for apricot, cherry, peach, plum, and plum hybridss.)

Ornamental species and forms can be divided into two categories: evergreen and deciduous. Evergreen types are used chiefly as hedges, screens, shade trees, street trees. Deciduous flowering trees and shrubs, closely related to the fruit trees mentioned above, are valued for their winter or spring floral display as well as for attractive shape and for foliage form, texture, and sometimes even fall color. Many of these deciduous kinds offer a bonus of edible fruit.

Prunus serrulata 'Shirofugen'

This 25-ft. tree has wide, horizontal branches and double pink flowers that fade to white. It's very late to bloom, its flowers appearing with its coppery-red new leaves.