As spring comes around, flowering cherry trees put on a beautiful show of pink or white flowers that cover their branches. Because they don’t grow very tall or wide, weeping cherry trees do well in small areas. They make beautiful specimen trees for a lawn, a courtyard, or a border. Little kids like to use trees with weeping branches that form an “umbrella” shape as a natural playhouse. Flowering cherries belong to the large genus Prunus, and are deciduous. Their flowers are what make them look pretty, but their young leaves are often an attractive bronze color. In the fall, they turn different colors before falling.
The spring flowers on weeping cherry trees are either white or pink, and they have single or double flowers. Single flowers are best for bees and other pollinators. The tree always has a unique shape, with branches that hang down. In the spring and summer, big, oval, toothed leaves cover the branches. All weeping cherries are compact in habit. Top-grafted trees are the tiniest and don’t grow taller than the trunk when they are bought, which is usually about 1 2-1. 8 meters, but a tree with only one stem grows taller with hanging branches that grow from the main trunk and ends up being about 4 meters tall and wide.
Weeping cherry trees are a beautiful and iconic feature of many landscapes. With their graceful, cascading branches and abundant spring blooms it’s easy to see why they are so popular. But did you know there are two main types of weeping cherry trees – grafted and natural? Understanding the differences between these two varieties is key to selecting the right tree for your needs.
What is a Grafted Weeping Cherry Tree?
A grafted weeping cherry tree starts its life as two separate trees. A section of a desired weeping variety, known as the scion is grafted onto the rooted trunk of another type of cherry known as the rootstock. This grafting technique is done by gardeners to create the picturesque umbrella form that weeping cherries are known for.
The scion provides the aesthetic qualities – the weeping habit and the flowers The rootstock provides the robust root system and trunk Common rootstock varieties used are Prunus ‘Amanogawa’, Prunus avium, and Prunus serrulata.
Some of the most popular grafted weeping cherry cultivars include:
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Prunus ‘Snow Fountains’ – A small weeping cherry with white blossoms. Grows to about 8-10 ft tall.
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Prunus x yedoensis ‘Shidare Yoshino’ – Large weeping cherry with prolific pink blooms. Grows 15-25 ft tall.
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Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula Rubra’ – Weeping cherry with red-tinged leaves and pink flowers. Grows to 15-25 ft tall.
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Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula’ – Also known as Higan cherry. Abundant pink blooms on long cascading branches. Grows 15-25 ft tall.
The graft union, where the scion and rootstock are fused together, is often visible as a bulge on the trunk around 1-3 feet from the ground.
What is a Natural Weeping Cherry Tree?
A natural weeping cherry tree grows on its own roots. It is not grafted. These trees have a genetic natural tendency to weep or cascade downward. Natural weeping cherries include:
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Prunus subhirtella var. pendula – The true species weeping cherry. Discovered in Japan. Long weeping branches produce pinkish-white flowers. Grows 15-25 ft tall.
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Prunus pendula – European weeping cherry. Graceful drooping branches with white flowers. Grows 10-15 ft tall.
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Prunus ‘Spandau’ – Cultivar of the European species. Profuse white blooms on weeping branches. Grows 8-12 ft tall.
Unlike grafted weeping cherries, natural weeping cherries do not have a visible graft union on the trunk. The entire tree, from roots to branch tips, is one continuous plant.
Key Differences Between Grafted and Natural Weeping Cherries
Now that we’ve covered the basics, what are the key differences between grafted and natural weeping cherry trees?
Structure and Growth Habit
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Grafted trees have a straight trunk and weeping canopy. Natural weeping cherries have uniformly cascading branches from top to bottom.
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Grafted varieties are generally larger, 15-25 ft tall. Natural weeping cherries are often smaller, averaging 10-15 ft tall.
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Grafted weeping cherries are fast growing. Naturals have a slower, more restrained growth rate.
Flowers
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Grafted cherries have a wide variety of flower colors – white, pink, red-tinged. Naturals are almost exclusively white flowering.
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Grafted trees tend to have fuller, showier floral displays. Natural weeping cherries have more delicate, airy blooms.
Hardiness
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Grafted weeping cherries are only as hardy as the scion variety, which can be damaged by harsh winters. The rootstock is usually hardier.
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Natural weeping cherries are hardy to their root system. They tend to be more winter resilient.
Reverting Branches
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Grafted weeping cherries may develop some straight, upward growing branches over time. This is the rootstock asserting itself.
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Natural weeping cherries retain their uniform weeping habit. They do not revert.
Availability
- Grafted weeping cherries are widely available at most nurseries. Natural weeping cherries may be harder to source.
Price
- A grafted weeping cherry is typically less expensive than a natural weeping cherry tree.
Caring for Grafted vs. Natural Weeping Cherry Trees
Watering – All weeping cherries need regular watering during the first few years until the root system is well established. Water deeply and infrequently.
Pruning – Grafted weeping cherries can be trimmed to shape the canopy and remove reverting branches. Prune natural weeping cherries lightly to maintain their natural form.
Fertilization – Apply a balanced fertilizer for flowering trees in early spring before bud break.
Pests/Diseases – Weeping cherries can be susceptible to aphids, scale, caterpillars, and diseases like black knot, leaf spot, and shothole. Maintain vigor with proper care.
Winter Care – Protect newly planted and young weeping cherry trees from winter damage. Wrap or paint the trunks and provide protection from heavy snow or ice.
Which One is Right for Your Landscape?
When selecting a weeping cherry tree, consider your specific landscape needs and growing conditions.
Grafted weeping cherries provide gorgeous spring blooms and dramatic form on a standard tree shape. They work well as focal points and require a decent amount of space. For small yards, dwarf grafted weeping cherries are available.
Natural weeping cherries have a delicate, ethereal look with their uniformly cascading branches. Their slightly smaller size makes them suitable for use in borders and Asian style gardens. They can also nicely frame gates, entries, and pathways.
With proper selection and care, both grafted and natural weeping cherry trees can make stunning additions to gardens and landscapes. Understanding their differences allows you to pick the perfect weeping cherry tree for your unique space.
Pruning weeping cherry tree
Regular pruning isn’t needed; just get rid of any dead or damaged shoots and any that are crossing, since that can cause wounds. Always prune only in summer when pruning cuts heal fastest.
Alan Titchmarsh shows how to prune a cherry tree, in this video guide. He shows you the right tools for pruning and tells you why you should always prune cherry trees in the summer. He also shows you how to make your tree look better. Video ID: “3445a7741924bccb304410f1785fb7b0ea5f6e60” Mix ID: “” Player ID: “qAUyOzk5” If the player doesn’t show up in a few seconds, the Player ID or License Key (set in IM Green Video settings) might not work.
Where to grow weeping cherry tree
If you want a weeping tree to spread out, give it plenty of room to do so. It’s best to plant one tree at a time in a lawn or border with shade-tolerant ground cover plants.
Plant in any reasonably fertile, water-retentive soil that doesn’t get too wet, and make sure it’s out of the way of strong winds that could damage the flowers. In cold areas, avoid low-lying areas prone to hard frosts that could scorch the flowers.
Why My Weeping Cherry Tree Is Dying
FAQ
How to tell if a weeping cherry tree is grafted?
Why are weeping cherries grafted?
Do grafted weeping cherry trees grow taller?
What is the prettiest weeping cherry tree?
What is the difference between a natural and grafted weeping cherry tree?
The major differences between a natural and grafted weeping cherry tree include: Trunk and branch shape. Naturally grown has twisted main branches that need to be trained, while grafted ones have strong and straight trunks. Pest and disease susceptibility. The trunk of a grafted tree is from a disease-resistant variety.
Do grafted cherry trees require a lot of maintenance?
When trimming maintenance, a natural cherry tree doesn’t demand much because the upright branches eventually arch down as they grow. However, its weeping branches are not as much as a grafted one. A grafted weeping cherry tree can overwhelm your garden with thick weeping branches.
Can You graft a weeping cherry tree?
Since your Weeping Cherry Tree is almost certainly the result of a graft, rooting a cutting from the scion or rootstock for propagation will not result in another Weeping Cherry Tree. A grafted tree combines the best characteristics of its scion and rootstock to form a single “supertree.”
How tall do weeping cherries grow?
All weeping cherries are compact in habit. Top grafted trees are smallest and grow no taller than the trunk at the time of purchase, usually in the region of 1.2-1.8m, whereas a single stemmed tree grows taller with pendulous branches weeping from the main trunk and has an ultimate height and spread of around four metres.