4 Flowering Cherry Trees and How to Plant Them

There's no more spectacular harbinger of spring than an ornamental cherry tree bursting into bloom. After a winter of bare branches come clouds of fluffy, pastel blossoms. Some types produce fruits that attract birds to the garden, and many also have good fall color to end the year with a bang.

When to Plant: Fall
At Its Best: Spring
Time to Complete: 2 hours

Materials Needed:

• cherry tree
• stake
• tree tie
• spade

Choose a Site

Ornamental cherries grow best in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun, although they tolerate partial shade and a drier soil once they're established. Make sure there's ample room for the tree to grow because some mature into large trees.

Planting and Staking

Dig a hole the same depth as the rootball and twice as wide. Plant the tree so that its rootball is slightly above the surrounding soil surface. Hammer in a stake angled into the prevailing wind. Attach it to the tree using a flexible, adjustable tree tie.

Planting Choices

Cherry trees come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors to suit all gardens. Prunus 'Spire' (image 1) has a slender, upright habit, ideal for smaller gardens. P. x subhirtella (image 2) and P. incisa (image 3) are both compact trees with pale pink flowers and attractive autumnal color. P. 'Shizuka' (image 4) is medium-sized and has large, scented, white semi-double flowers.