Prunus serrulata ‘Amanogawa’ – Japanese Flagpole Flowering Cherry Tree

Botanical Name: Prunus serrulata ‘Amanogawa’

Alternate Name: Amanogawa Flowering Cherry, Amanogawa Columnar Japanese Cherry, Flagpole Cherry

The Japanese Flagpole Flowering Cherry tree (Prunus serrulata ‘Amanogawa’) is a beautiful, hardy, deciduous ornamental cherry tree that is perfect for small landscapes. The cultivar is very old, dating back to 1886. ‘Amanogawa’ means ‘Heaven’s River’ in Japanese, referring to the galaxy full of stars, which looks like a river.

The juvenile form of the Flagpole Cherry is columnar. It matures into a vase-shape. At adulthood, it reaches a height of 20-25 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide. Plant along a driveway to great effect or use as a focal point tree in small residential landscapes.

The leaves of the Japanese Flagpole Flowering Cherry tree are light green and unfurl with a bronze tinge. They mature to mid-green as spring moves into summer. Their shape is ovate to lanceolate, and they grow up to 5 inches long, with a serrate margin. In the fall, the tree puts on a display of rich orange and red.

The flowers are very fragrant, semi-double, and pale pink. They grow upright along the branches and are approximately 2 inches in diameter with a deep pink throat. As the blooms of the Japanese Flagpole Flowering Cherry persist, they fade to almost white. The blooms will sometimes give way to small black fruits.