We’re now a good way through March, and the imminent Cherry Blossom season is just about all we can think about here at Ornamental Trees! We’re already seeing some of our early Cherry Blossom trees starting to flower on the nursery, and we can’t wait to watch them burst into full bloom in the coming weeks. If you haven’t already, make sure to read our recent blog post 6 Reasons Why You Should Have a Cherry Blossom Tree.
In the run up to Cherry Blossom season, we are often asked here at Ornamental Trees whether cherry blossom trees can be grown in pots and containers. The good news is: yes they can! If your garden is on the small side, or if you don’t have a vast amount of outdoor space to work with, you are not exempt from enjoying flowering cherries in all their glory. A number of varieties are small enough to be grown in sizeable pots, but still put on a spectacular floral display.
It is worth bearing in mind that Cherry Blossom trees prefer a sheltered but sunny position, so a sheltered patio would be an ideal location for a potted, compact variety. They don’t tolerate wet soil well, so we’d recommend using pot feet in autumn and winter to keep them well drained.
Here we’ve listed seven of our best cherry blossom trees for pots and containers.
Prunus incisa f. Yamadei | Fuji Cherry Tree
This ornamental tree might be small in size but it’s anything but in terms of impact. From its pale green buds grows a mass of pure white, bell-shaped flowers. It has deeply serrated leaves and sometimes produces small, red fruits. Prunus incisa f. Yamadei will grow to an estimated height and spread of just 4 x 3 metres in 20 years.

Prunus incisa f. Yamadei

Prunus incisa f. Yamadei
Prunus nipponica kurilensis 'Brilliant' | Japanese Alpine Cherry Tree
Prunus nipponica kurilensis 'Brilliant' is a small, bushy tree featuring dainty, pink/white flowers. Its serrated foliage offers something new for each season: it appears rusty bronze in the spring, turning green in summer, and finally orange and red in autumn. This lovely Japanese alpine cherry tree will grow to a height and spread of approximately 2.5 x 2.5 metres in 20 years.

Prunus nipponica kurilensis 'Brilliant'

Prunus nipponica kurilensis 'Brilliant'
Prunus incisa 'Kojo-no-mai' | Dwarf Fuji Cherry Tree
This award-winning dwarf Fuji Cherry tree is distinct from other Cherry Blossoms for its zig-zag shaped branches. The insides of its delicate flowers are a deep pink, fading outwards into a lovely, light white colour. Prunus incisa 'Kojo-no-mai' will reach an approximate height and spread of 2 x 2 metres in 20 years, making it ideal as a patio tree. It takes well to a hard prune, allowing its shape to be kept more compact, if desired.

Prunus incisa 'Kojo-no-mai'

Prunus incisa 'Kojo-no-mai' bush
Prunus 'Kiku-shidare-zakura' | Cheals Weeping Cherry Tree
If you’re looking for a small weeping cherry tree that doesn’t compromise on impact, then look no further than the Cheals Weeping Cherry. Despite its small size—it will reach an estimated height and spread of 3 x 3 metres in 20 years—'Kiku-shidare-zakura' offers a stunning display of large, deep-pink, double flowers that are almost spherical and up to 4cm wide.

Prunus 'Kiku-shidare-zakura'

Prunus 'Kiku-shidare-zakura'
Prunus 'Snow Showers' | Weeping Fuji Cherry Tree
This tree is so-called because its white flower-adorned weeping branches resemble the falling of snowflakes. The mid-green foliage appears later in the spring, providing a lovely contrast to the white blossoms. Growing to approximately 3 x 3 metres in 20 years, this weeping Fuji cherry tree is ideal for confined spaces and will do well in a large pot.

Prunus 'Snow Showers'

Prunus 'Snow Showers' in autumn
Prunus 'Little Pink Perfection' | Dwarf Flowering Cherry Tree
When it comes to showiness, it doesn’t get much better than the Prunus ‘Little Pink Perfection’. Reaching a height and spread of just 3 x 3 metres in 20 years, it is a smaller version of the very popular Prunus ‘Pink Perfection’, growing to just half normal size. Its double pink flowers, which grow in April-May and hang in large clusters, are accompanied by young bronze foliage.

Prunus 'Little Pink Perfection'

Prunus 'Little Pink Perfection'
Prunus 'Frilly Frock' | Variegated Weeping Cherry Tree
In early spring the cascading branches of this weeping cherry tree grow an abundance of pretty, white/pale pink flowers. It has strikingly variegated leaves which, in the spring and summer, are coloured a deep green with pale green margins. Prunus ‘Frilly Frock’ retains its variegation through to autumn when its leaves turn shades of orange and red.

Prunus 'Frilly Frock'

Prunus 'Frilly Frock'