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.

Description

Height: 20-25 ft.
Width: 4-8 ft.
Shape: Columnar, Vase shaped and Low Branching
Flower Color: Pink
Flowering Time: April
Fall Color: Red, Orange
Features: Showy spring flowers, attractive fall color
Exposure: Full Sun
Watering: Moderate & Regular
Soil: Prefers moderately rich, well-drained soil. Tolerates a range of soil types and pH.
Growth Rate: Moderate
USDA Zones: 6-8
Uses: Accent tree, lining driveways, habitat tree, lawn tree
Similar Trees: Canada Red Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana ‘Canada Red’), Kwanzan Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata ‘Kwanzan’), Mt. Fuji Japanese Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata ‘Mt Fuji’), Okame Flowering Cherry (Prunus x incamp ‘Okame’), Akebono Flowering Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis ‘Akebono’), Yoshino Flowering Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis ‘Yoshino’), Columnar Sargent Flowering Cherry (Prunus sargentii ‘Columnaris’)

Additional information

Shape

Columnar, Vase, Low Branching

Flower Color

Pink

Flowering Time

April

Fall Color

Orange, Red

Growth Rate

Moderate

Uses

Accent Tree, Habitat Tree, Lawn Tree, Lining Driveways

USDA Zones

6, 7, 8

Mature Height

20'-30'

Mature Width

4'-6', 6'-8'

Exposure

Full Sun

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