Fast-Growing Cherry Trees
- The autumn cherry (Prunus subhirtella "Autumnalis") produces semi-double pink flowers in the spring and then again in the fall or during warm periods in the winter. It grows about 25 to 35 feet tall with a similar spread. Plant it in full sun in acidic, well-draining soil. It is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8. Autumn cherry trees have some drought tolerance but are susceptible to problems with disease and pests.
- Black cherry tree (Prunus serotina) is a North American native that grows about 60 to 90 feet tall. It produces small but showy white flowers in the spring and yellow, orange and red leaves in the fall. Unfortunately, this tree tends to be a bit messy and its leaves are poisonous to livestock and some other animals. It is drought and salt tolerant but prone to defoliation problems with tent caterpillars. Plant it in full sun to part shade in deep, moist, fertile soil. It is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8.
- Although technically a tree, the purple leaf sand cherry (Prunus x cistena) is often listed as a "shrub" since it only grows about 7 to 10 feet tall with a similar width. The purple leaf is considered very urban tolerant, which means it puts up with poor soil, heavy shearing and heat. It is not as tolerant of insects and disease and is prone to problems with both of these. Still, its reddish-purple foliage provides an attractive contrast in the summer, as do the light pink to white flowers in the spring. Plant this cherry tree in the full sun to light shade in a moist, well-draining soil in USDA zones 3 through 7.
- Sargent cherry (Prunus sargentii) is a very attractive cherry tree. It has shiny reddish bark that looks almost polished and dark green leaves that turn red, orange and bronze in the fall. But its most spectacular appearance is in the late April or early May when it produces large, pink blossoms. This tree tolerates wind and some drought but not air pollution. It will grow about 40 to 50 feet tall with a similar spread. Plant it in a well-draining soil in full sun in USDA zones 4 through 7.
- Yoshino cherry trees (along with Kwanzan cherry trees) are common in the nation's capital.Cherry Blossoms image by dwight9592 from Fotolia.com
Yoshino or Japanese flowering cherry (Prunus x yedoensis) is one of the most widely planted ornamental cherry trees and the tree that made the Macon Cherry Blossom Festival famous, according to the Arbor Day Foundation. It produces fragrant pinkish blossoms in March or April. It can grow about 40 to 50 feet tall with a slightly smaller spread. It prefers a moist, well-draining soil but does have some drought tolerance. Plant it in full sun in USDA zones 5 through 8.
