Cherry blossoms hold a special place in gardener’s hearts with their explosion of spring flowers. But what if you want that dreamy look in your landscape without the hassle of growing real (and often fussy) cherries? Luckily many trees mimic the bloom and form of cherries letting you recreate that magical look. Keep reading for 10 great options!
Flowering Cherry Varieties
While finicky for some regions flowering cherries like Kwanzan and Yoshino remain top choices for sheer flower power:
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Kwanzan – Vigorous grower with huge pink double blossoms in spring Max height around 30 feet
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Yoshino – Fragrant almond-scented white to pale pink flowers Grows 20-30 feet
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Shirofugen – Vase-shaped form with loads of frilly, fragrant, pink double blooms. 15-25 feet tall.
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Akebono – Abundant soft pink bloom and reddish bark. Grows 15-25 feet high and wide.
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Snow Fountain – Cascading branches smothered in white blooms. Weeping form 8-10 feet high and wide.
Ornamental Cherries
Several non-fruiting ornamental cherry hybrids offer gorgeous blooms without the mess and maintenance of fruit:
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Okame – Early pink bloom, reddish leaves, and peeling bark. Grows 15-25 feet tall and wide.
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Accolade – Semi-double, light pink flowers. Upright form, 20-30 feet high.
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Autumnalis – Unique reblooming with rose flowers again in fall. Grows 20-25 feet tall.
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Royal Burgundy – Deep reddish-purple leaves all season. Light pink blooms. Grows 15-20 feet high.
Crabapples
These spring-flowering beauties offer white to pink hues along with ornamental fruits:
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Spring Snow – Abundant fragrant white flowers smother weeping branches. Max 15 feet tall.
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Brandywine – Pale pink double blooms on a rounded form. Grows 15-20 feet high and wide.
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Prairifire – Deep pinkish-red buds open to bright pink blooms. Grows 15-20 feet high.
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Sugar Tyme – Clusters of short-lived white blooms followed by edible mini fruits. Grows 15 feet tall.
Other Cherry Lookalikes
Some additional trees share the delicate, fleeting beauty of cherries:
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Flowering Almond – Clouds of pink and white blossoms on a low, spreading form. Grows 8-12 feet high.
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Magnolia – Deciduous magnolias like Saucer have huge fuzzy pinkish-white blooms. Grows 20-30 feet tall.
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Redbud – Profuse pink to lavender blooms line bare branches in early spring. Grows 15-25 feet tall.
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Dogwood – Showy white or pink flower bracts in spring on horizontal tiers. Grows 15-30 feet tall.
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Pear – Ornamental pear varieties have loads of white flowers in early spring. Grows 20-45 feet tall.
Key Differences From Cherries
While all mimicking the cherry aesthetic, alternatives have some key differences:
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Bloom time – Most bloom shortly after cherries rather than exactly the same time.
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Flower structure – Cherries have 5-petaled, open blooms while some alternatives like magnolias have thicker petals.
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Flower color – Varies more from white to pinks, purples, and reds compared to mostly white to light pink cherries.
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Form – Cherries are almost exclusively rounded while alternatives include weeping, vase-shape, columnar, and more.
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Fruit – Cherries produce edible fruits, though with big pits. Alternatives may have berry-like fruits, seed pods, or no fruit.
Growing Tips
Follow these tips for success growing your cherry lookalike:
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Select disease-resistant cultivars when available. This is critical for flowers like crabapples.
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Choose self-pollinating varieties unless planting multiple for cross-pollination.
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Plant in full sun for best flowering and fruiting.
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Prune strategically in late winter to improve flowering, shape, and health.
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Water during dry periods to help flowering and growth.
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Apply fertilizer or compost in early spring to support lush blooms.
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Watch for pests like borers, tent caterpillars, and Japanese beetles.
Designing With Cherry-Lookalikes
Use cherry-lookalike trees in your landscape design in these fun ways:
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As a stand-alone focal point in a front yard or other prominent spot.
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Lined up along a driveway, walkway, or property border for a cohesive look.
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In a spring-flowering grove or orchard with multiple varieties mixed together.
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As an elegant, flowering lawn specimen. Leave space to highlight weeping and cascading forms.
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In containers on a patio, deck, or balcony for up-close viewing.
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Along with spring bulbs like daffodils and tulips under the blooming canopy.
Enjoy Fleeting Cherry Beauty
For gorgeous yet graceful spring blooms, cherry lookalikes are sure to deliver. Their ephemeral flowers represent nature’s annual renewal. Choose the right tree for your space to paint your landscape pink or white when spring blossoms burst. Then sit back and admire the beauty while it lasts!
FAQs About Cherry-Like Trees
Here are answers to some common questions about growing cherry alternatives:
Q: Do any trees smell like cherry blossoms?
A: Yoshino cherry and saucer magnolia have light, almond-like fragrances. But most alternatives lack the distinct cherry scent.
Q: What’s a good flowering cherry tree for small yards?
A: Compact options like ‘Snow Fountain’ weeping cherry, ‘Akebono’ cherry, or ‘Spring Snow’ crabapple work well. Also consider prunus mume.
Q: How fast do Yoshino cherry trees grow?
A: Yoshino cherries grow at a moderate pace, adding 1-2 feet of height per year once established until they reach their 20-30 foot mature size.
Q: What’s the most cold hardy flowering cherry?
A: The Accolade cherry is one of the most cold hardy, surviving down to -25° F once established. Check mature hardiness ranges when selecting.
Q: Do crabs apples attract bees?
A: Yes, crabapple trees are magnets for pollinators like bees and butterflies while in bloom, giving weeks of foraging. Plant away from high-traffic areas.
Questions about Cherry Blossom Trees
Cherry Blossom Trees can grow in most areas of the United States, with numerous varieties thriving in zones 4-9. Most Cherry Blossom varieties are bred with some degree of cold hardinessâsome able to withstand temperatures as low as -20 degrees. Additionally, some varieties, like the Yoshino, are drought-resistant. Before purchase, be sure to confirm your areaâs USDA growing zone so you can be confident that your desired variety will thrive.
Cherry Blossom Tree Care and Maintenance
While many Cherry Blossom Trees care routines are similar, itâs always best to reference specific Cherry Blossom Tree guidance for your particular variety.
1. Planting: Before you start digging, be sure your desired planting spot has well-draining soil and full to partial sunlightâyour tree will grow best in areas that receive between 4-8 hours of sun a day.Â
Dig your hole just as deep as your treeâs root ball, and twice as wide. Youâll want the top of the root ball to sit about an inch above the surrounding soilâs level, so leave a small mound of dirt in the center of the hole for the root ball to sit on top of.Â
Carefully loosen the treeâs roots and spread them in the hole. Backfill the hole with soil, without covering the crown (the top of the root ball) and water the tree to settle its roots. To complete the planting process, spread a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the treeâs root area to help keep the soil moist.Â
2. Watering: Frequency for watering will vary depending on the type of soil your tree is planted in, rainfall, and temperatures. When in doubt, check the soil two inches down for moistness. If its dry, itâs time to water. We recommend a slow trickle from the garden hose for 10-20 minutes.Â
3. Fertilizing: Flowering Cherries do not require fertilizer during their first two years of planting as long as weeds are kept at bay. However, as your tree ages, it will benefit from a nitrogen-based fertilizer. Apply once in the springâor spread the application across the season in equal parts over the course of spring and summer.Â
4. Pruning: Varieties like the Yoshino, will need minimal pruning, but broken branches can be addressed in spring before new growth begins. Others, like the Double Pink Weeping Cherry, will benefit from pruning the current yearâs faded flowers to promote buds the following season. For prime results, prune your Flowering Cherry during the dormant period, removing any dead, damaged, or diseased branches along the way.Â