Prunus x yedoensis ‘Akebono’ – Akebono Flowering Cherry

Botanical Name: Prunus x yedoensis ‘Akebono’

Alternate Name: Akebono Yoshino Cherry, Daybreak Cherry, Daybreak Yoshino Cherry

The Akebono Flowering Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis ‘Akebono’) is popular for the spectacular display of pink flowers that cover its branches in early spring. This cultivar is one of the ornamental cherry trees that creates the historic dazzling cherry blossom display in Washington D.C. every spring.

The Akebono Cherry tree is a small, deciduous, ornamental tree. Initially, it has an upright growth habit that becomes more spreading, with slightly weeping branches, as the tree matures. The crown is uniform and rounded with moderately dense foliage. This cherry tree grows to a height of 23-35 feet with a spread of 25-40 feet.

The leaves develop after the flower display. They are a glossy dark green and lance or ovate shaped with serrate margins. The foliage turns vibrant shades of golden yellow and orange in the fall. The attractive bark with prominent lenticels (markings) provides interest in the winter months.

The showy, large, rose-pink blooms of the Akebono Cherry tree appear early in early spring before the tree leaves out. They are semi-double, slightly fragrant, and gradually fade to white as they fully open.