Prunus ‘Umineko’ (Japanese Flowering Cherry)

Prunus ‘Umineko’ is a small, upright deciduous tree boasting profuse, single, pure white flowers, 1.5 in. across (4 cm), hugging closely the branches in mid-spring. The flowers have large petals and showy pink stamens which become more conspicuous as the flowers age. Emerging pale green during the flowering, the leaves turn dark green before turning brilliant red and orange in fall. A compact and attractive spring flowering small tree that is tolerant of urban pollution.

‘Umineko’ means ‘Sea Gull’ in Japanese. This cultivar resembles ‘Snow Goose’ as it shares the same parents, Prunus incisa (Fuji cherry) and Prunus serrulata var. speciosa (Yoshima cherry).

• Typically grows with a columnar habit to 30 ft. in height (9 m) and 12 ft. wide (4 m).
• Performs best in full sun in moist, relatively fertile, well-drained soils.
• Perfect choice as single specimen plants, mixed borders, and lawns.
• Prune in midsummer if silver leaf is a problem
• Watch for caterpillars, leaf-mining moths, bullfinches, silver leaf, bacterial canker, and blossom wilt.
• Propagate by budding or grafting, although softwood cuttings in early summer with bottom heat can be successful.