Mount Fuji White Flowering Cherry

Mount Fuji Cherry (Prunus serrulata 'Shirotae') is the flowering cherry that spreads sideways. It reaches about 5m tall and 6m across, wider than it is high, holding its outer branches almost horizontally so a mature tree reads as a low white cloud in spring. The flowers are large, white, faintly fragrant and they open before the leaves, which is why nothing distracts from them.

Why you'll love it

• The shape is the point. At roughly 5m tall and 6m wide it grows out rather than up, with tiered horizontal branching that gives a garden a strong line even in winter.
• Large, scented white blossom. The flowers open on bare wood in spring, clean white with a light fragrance, and they carry for a fortnight in mild weather.
• Two seasons of display. The foliage turns before it drops, so autumn colour follows the spring show rather than the tree going quiet after flowering.
• Real shade in summer. A 6m spread of horizontal branching throws a wide canopy over a seat, a table or a stretch of lawn.

Where it works best

Feature planting. One tree in a lawn is the classic use and the right one. Give it a clear 6m so the horizontal branches develop properly, because a crowded Mount Fuji loses the shape you bought it for.

Shade tree. The wide, relatively low canopy shades a seating area or a courtyard without lifting so high that the shade lands next door.

Driveways and avenues. For a formal run, space trees at least 6m apart to match the mature spread. Any tighter and the canopies collide and force each other upward.

Growing Mount Fuji Cherry in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, in an open position with air movement. This is a tree for cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and it needs a genuinely cold winter to flower well. In subtropical districts the chill is not there and the display is thin.

Soil. Well drained, fertile soil with compost worked through a wide planting area. Cherries will not tolerate wet feet, and root rot on poorly drained clay is the most common way these trees are lost.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers, then taper to a moderate schedule. Feed a complete slow release fertiliser in early spring, and keep 75mm of mulch clear of the trunk.

Pruning. Prune in late summer, never in winter. Cherries seal wounds poorly in cold, wet weather and are prone to disease entering fresh cuts. Keep pruning light, since the natural tiered form is the entire attraction.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in three sizes. The 400mm pot is a young grafted tree with its framework starting to form, and it is the patient option. The 45L is a well developed tree with real presence on day one, and the 100L is a mature specimen for anyone who wants the spread established immediately.

Deciduous trees are frequently dispatched bare or nearly bare depending on the season, which is normal and not a fault. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Evergreen or deciduous, and how to choose
• Browse the full flowering tree range
• Compare other deciduous trees
• See more feature trees for a lawn or entry

Common questions

How much space does it really need?

Plan for 6m of width, not the 5m of height. This variety spreads wider than it grows tall, and the horizontal branching is the reason to plant it, so crowding it against a fence defeats the purpose.

Will it flower in a warm climate?

Only where winters are genuinely cold. We list it for cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens because it needs winter chill to set flower buds.

When should I prune it?

Late summer, once flowering and the main growth flush are finished. Avoid winter pruning entirely, and keep cuts to a minimum, because heavy pruning ruins the tiered shape.