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Overview
Prunus 'Kanzan' is Kwanzan flowering cherry (Kanzan cherry), an upright to vase-shaped deciduous tree growing 25-35 feet (7.5-10.5 m) tall and 20-30 feet (6-9 m) wide. Deep pink fully double flowers with 20-30 petals per flower, 2-2.5 inches (5-6 cm) diameter, in hanging clusters of 3-5 along the branches in April. The double flowers are sterile — no fruit is produced. The deep pink flowers emerge simultaneously with the coppery-bronze new foliage. Dark green ovate-lanceolate finely serrated leaves 2-5 inches (5-13 cm). Turns bronze to orange in fall. The vase-shaped form opens into a spreading canopy with age. In Rosaceae. A Sato-zakura (village cherry) cultivar from Japan — derived from Prunus serrulata and related species. The most widely planted double-flowered cherry in North America. Relatively short-lived for a landscape tree — typically 15-25 years. Susceptible to borers (especially the peach tree borer, Synanthedon exitiosa), bacterial canker (Pseudomonas syringae), and root rot in poorly drained soil. This short lifespan and disease susceptibility is the primary limitation. Grafted onto rootstock — remove below-graft suckers. Not drought-tolerant. Deer browse. Toxic (leaves, bark, and seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides). Zones 5-8. Full sun. Growth rate is moderate.
Native Range
Cultivar of Japanese garden origin. A selection from the Sato-zakura (village cherry) group, cultivated in Japan for centuries. Derived from Prunus serrulata and related species.Suggested Uses
Grown as a specimen tree, street tree, and park tree spaced 20-30 feet (6-9 m). Deep pink double spring bloom. No fruit litter (sterile). Short-lived (15-25 years) — plan for eventual replacement. Toxic. Zones 5-8.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height25' - 35'
Width/Spread20' - 30'
Reaches mature size in approximately 10 years
Bloom Information
Mid spring (April). Deep pink fully double flowers 2-2.5 inches (5-6 cm) with 20-30 petals per flower in hanging clusters of 3-5. Sterile (no fruit). 2 weeks of bloom. Limited pollinator value (double flowers). Coppery-bronze foliage emerges simultaneously.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Deep pink, fully double with 20-30 petals per flower, 2-2.5 inches (5-6 cm) diameter, in hanging clusters of 3-5 along the branches; no fruit (double flowers are sterile)Foliage Description
Dark green, simple, ovate-lanceolate, finely serrated, 2-5 inches (5-13 cm); emerging coppery-bronze in spring; turns bronze to orange in fallGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Full sun (6+ hours). Well-drained soil pH 5.5-7.0 — root rot in poorly drained sites. Not drought-tolerant. Susceptible to borers, bacterial canker, and root rot. Short-lived (15-25 years). Remove below-graft suckers. Prune after flowering (June-July) — winter pruning increases canker risk. Deer browse. Toxic (cyanogenic glycosides). Zones 5-8.Pruning
Prune after flowering (June-July) — pruning in winter increases the risk of bacterial canker (Pseudomonas syringae) entry through wounds. Remove dead, crossing, or damaged branches. Remove suckers emerging below the graft union. The vase-shaped form is natural.Pruning Schedule
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