Prunus jamasakura

RHS Plant Profile

Japanese mountain cherry

Other common names

hill cherry

Synonyms

Prunus serrulata var. spontanea
Prunus mutabilis

Trees

A wide-spreading tree with oblong, dark green leaves, bronzed in spring, red and yellow in autumn. In mid- to late spring bears a profusion of single, white, cup-shaped flowers in small clusters, followed by small, dark red, cherry-like fruit

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

8-12 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 20–50 years
Max Spread: wider than 8 metres
Max Height: 8-12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Rosaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Spreading branched
Genus: Prunus can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with showy flowers in spring, and often good autumn foliage colour. Some have edible fruit in autumn, and a few species have ornamental bark
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Japan

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in containers outdoors in autumn, or by softwood cuttings in early summer with bottom heat

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 1; prune in mid-summer to reduce risk of silver leaf infection

Pests

May be susceptible to caterpillars and leaf-mining moths

Diseases

May be susceptible to silver leaf, bacterial canker and blossom wilt. High Risk Host for Xylella fastidiosa