Flowering Cherry Tree's
Who doesn’t love a flowering cherry in full bloom? For a few weeks every spring, these beautiful trees put on a show that is hard to ignore. After flowering, they settle quietly into the garden, adding structure, form and a leafy summer canopy.
That balance - a spectacular seasonal display without demanding constant attention - is why flowering cherries remain popular with home gardeners, landscapers and anyone wanting to add shape and softness to an outdoor space.
Most varieties are surprisingly adaptable once established. Here in North Canterbury, carefully selected flowering cherries cope well with seasonal changes, from dry summers to cooler winters.
Whether you want something formal, relaxed, compact or dramatic, there is probably a flowering cherry that will suit your space.
Find the Right Flowering Cherry for Your Garden
Need a narrow tree for a smaller section, a graceful weeping cherry or a spreading tree for a lawn or avenue? Use the guide below to compare the options—or browse the flowering cherry trees currently available from CJ’s.
View Flowering Cherries in Stock
Flowering Cherry Shapes and Sizes
Flowering cherries come in several growth habits. Understanding how each tree develops—whether upright, compact, weeping or spreading—will help you choose one that fits your garden over the long term.
Quick Variety Comparison
| If you want… | Consider | Growth habit | Flowers | Ideal use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A tree for a narrow space | Prunus ‘Amanogawa’ | Narrow and columnar | Fragrant soft white and blush pink | Small gardens, driveways and tighter beds |
| An upright, early-flowering tree | Prunus campanulata ‘Superba’ | Upright and pyramidal | Deep rose-red | Driveways, avenue planting and feature positions |
| An early-flowering tree for a smaller garden | Prunus campanulata ‘Felix Jury’ | Compact and tidy | Rich rose-pink | Smaller gardens, parks and feature planting |
| Soft-pink flowers early in the season | Prunus ‘Pink Cloud’ | Rounded and spreading | Clear soft pink | Smaller gardens, lawns and entrances |
| A graceful weeping tree | Prunus ‘Falling Snow’ | Weeping | Pale pink buds opening white | Lawns, seating areas and feature planting |
| A wide canopy with fragrant white flowers | Prunus ‘Shirotae’—Mount Fuji | Broad and spreading | Fragrant, fluffy white | Lawns, shade and larger gardens |
| Oversized white spring flowers | Prunus ‘Tai Haku’ | Spreading | Large white blooms | Statement trees and open garden spaces |
| Peony-like pink-and-white flowers | Prunus ‘Shimizu Sakura’ | Broad and spreading | Soft pink fading to white | Specimen trees, avenues and Japanese-inspired gardens |
| Early rose-pink colour | Prunus ‘Accolade’ | Rounded and semi-spreading | Semi-double rose pink | Feature trees and larger beds |
| A classic Canterbury avenue tree | Prunus × yedoensis ‘Awanui’ | Vase-shaped and spreading | Blush pink | Avenues, driveways and larger gardens |
| A bold deep-pink display | Prunus ‘Kanzan’ | Upright when young, becoming spreading | Fully double deep pink | Lawns, avenues and bold spring displays |
Upright and Space-Saving Flowering Cherries
Upright cherries are useful when space is limited or when you want height without a wide canopy. They work well beside driveways, in tighter garden beds and near buildings where a broad tree could become difficult to manage.
Prunus ‘Amanogawa’ has a narrow, columnar habit that delivers maximum spring impact in a relatively small footprint. Its softly coloured, lightly fragrant flowers and fiery autumn foliage make it an excellent option for urban gardens and formal rows.
Prunus campanulata ‘Superba’ forms an upright, pyramidal tree with pendulous clusters of deep rose-red flowers from late winter into early spring. Its early, nectar-rich blossom is particularly valuable when there is less colour elsewhere in the garden.
Compact and Early-Flowering Choices
Prunus campanulata ‘Felix Jury’ was bred in New Zealand and produces rich, deep rose-pink, bell-shaped flowers from late winter into early spring. It has a tidy form and makes a striking feature tree for a smaller garden. CJ’s trees are currently described as reaching approximately 3 metres high by 2 metres wide after five years.
Prunus ‘Pink Cloud’ is another New Zealand-raised, early-flowering cherry. Its bare branches become covered with clear, soft-pink single blossoms from late winter into early spring. Its manageable, rounded form makes it a good option for lawns, entranceways and smaller garden settings.
Weeping Flowering Cherries
Weeping cherries are natural focal points. Their branches arch downwards to create a soft, cascading effect that becomes especially dramatic when the tree is in flower.
Prunus ‘Falling Snow’ develops graceful, pendant branches covered with pale pink buds that open to white flowers. It is particularly effective in an open lawn, beside a seating area or anywhere its full shape can be appreciated.
Spreading and Rounded Flowering Cherries
Spreading cherries develop broader canopies and suit open lawns, larger garden beds, avenues and sites where you want a traditional feature-tree effect.
Prunus ‘Shirotae’—Mount Fuji develops a broad canopy that can reach approximately 5 metres high and wide after five years. In October, it carries masses of fragrant, fluffy white flowers before providing welcome summer shade.
Prunus ‘Tai Haku’, also known as the Great White Cherry, produces exceptionally large white spring blossoms across its spreading branches. Fresh green foliage follows, turning warm gold and amber in autumn. CJ’s currently describes its approximate five-year size as 4 metres high by 3 metres wide.
Prunus ‘Shimizu Sakura’ produces large, softly ruffled flowers that open pink and fade towards white. Its broad canopy and memorable bloom display make it a beautiful specimen or avenue tree.
Prunus ‘Accolade’ is a rounded, semi-spreading cherry with masses of semi-double rose-pink flowers. It is one of the earlier Japanese-style cherries to bloom, making it an excellent choice when you want spring colour to begin sooner.
Prunus × yedoensis ‘Awanui’ has an erect, vase-shaped form that broadens as it develops. Blush-pink spring flowers cover the tree, followed by foliage that turns yellow and orange in autumn. It is well suited to avenue and driveway planting.
Prunus ‘Kanzan’ is upright and vase-shaped when young, becoming more spreading with age. Its rich pink, fully double flowers create one of the boldest displays in the range, followed by warm autumn foliage.
Planting Tips and Landscape Ideas
Getting the best from a flowering cherry starts with choosing the right position and allowing enough room for its mature shape.
Position
Flowering cherries produce their best bloom and healthiest growth in full sun, although some varieties tolerate light shade. In exposed gardens, give young trees some protection from strong prevailing winds. High winds can shorten the flowering display.
Consider these planting approaches:
- Use narrow trees such as Amanogawa or Superba beside a driveway or in a tighter garden bed.
- Plant a weeping cherry such as Falling Snow where its cascading branches can be seen clearly.
- Give broad trees such as Mount Fuji, Tai Haku or Shimizu Sakura an open lawn or larger bed where their canopies can develop naturally.
- Use Awanui, Kanzan or Accolade to create a strong avenue or repeated landscape feature.
- Position early-flowering Felix Jury or Pink Cloud where you can enjoy the first major blossom display of the season.
Soil and Drainage
Flowering cherries prefer fertile, free-draining soil. Heavy clay can be a problem, particularly in winter, because cherries do not like sitting in waterlogged ground.
If your garden has heavy clay, avoid low areas where water collects. Improve the surrounding soil with organic matter and consider slightly raising the planting area so excess water can drain away.
Establishment and Care
- Mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds, keeping the mulch clear of the trunk.
- Water regularly during the first two summers, particularly during dry or windy periods.
- Apply compost or an appropriate slow-release fertiliser in spring.
- Flowering cherries usually require minimal pruning. Remove dead, damaged or crossing branches after flowering during dry conditions, using clean, sharp tools.
Buying a Flowering Cherry from CJ’s
CJ’s flowering cherries are grown locally and selected for their performance in Canterbury conditions. You can order online, collect your tree from the Amberley nursery or contact the team if you need help choosing a variety or arranging delivery.
- View current prices and availability online.
- Collect your tree from CJ’s in Amberley.
- Read the shipping and delivery information.
- Call 0800 394 946 for help choosing your tree.