Types of Weeping Cherry
- Several weeping varieties of Higan Cherry (Prunus subhirtella) are available. The most common is Pendula, which has small (about 1 inch) light pink to almost white flowers in early spring. Pendula grows rapidly to 20 to 30 feet tall, and 15 to 25 feet wide. Its slender drooping branches sway easily in the wind and add an element of interest to water features.
- Yae-Shidare-Higan is also listed as Pendula Plena-Rosea and Sendai Ito Sakura. It is another variety of Higan Cherry, which has rose-colored blooms in mid-spring. The flowers are double and last longer than those of Pendula. Yae-Shidare-Higan grows 15 to 20 feet tall and wide.
- White Fountain Weeping Cherry (Prunus x Snofzam) is a compact tree with a semi-weeping form. It grows 12 feet tall and wide and is covered with white flowers in the early spring. White Fountain Weeping Cherry can be used as an accent or specimen in a small landscaped area. It is also known as Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry.
- Sidare Yoshino (Prunus x yeodoensis Shidare Yoshino) has irregular pendulous branches and grows 20 feet tall and 30 feet wide. The white flowers with a hint of pink appear before the leaves. It is also listed as Perpendens. Sidare Yoshino cherry trees are planted around the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.
Ivensii is another Weeping Yoshino Cherry with white flowers. It is an elegant umbrella-shaped tree with a lacy appearance. - Weeping cherry trees are excellent accent or specimen plants. They are also spectacular in a mass setting during bloom season.
A layer of mulch out to the edge of the canopy of a weeping cherry provides an uncluttered background for the drooping branches.
Weeping cherry trees are cold and heat tolerant, as well as moderately drought tolerant. They are prone to diseases, such as black knot, powdery mildew and twig cankers. Aphids, borers, scale insects, spider mites and tent caterpillars attack weeping cherry trees.
