Growing Cherry Blossom Trees in Pots and Containers

Sally Sally

5 min read

Growing Cherry Blossom Trees in Pots and Containers

2023 UPDATE: Read our more up-to-date blog post on growing cherry blossom trees in pots and containers: 7 Best Cherry Blossom Trees For Pots & Containers

The cherry blossom lined streets of Japan are a sight to behold but you don't need to travel abroad or have a large garden to enjoy these flowers up close. A number of Flowering Cherry varieties are small enough to be grown in a container, but still put on a fantastic display.

Cherry Blossom trees like a sunny and sheltered position, so growing compact varieties in pots on a sheltered patio is ideal. They don't tolerate wet soil well, so in autumn and winter it is worth using pot feet to help them drain better. Here's our top five picks:

Prunus nipponica kurilensis 'Brilliant' is a dwarf Alpine Cherry tree that grows to just 2.5 x 2.5 metres in 20 years. The bright white blossom is often pink-flushed and covers the branches in spring. The foliage turns orange and red in autumn, providing another seasonal delight.

Prunus incisa 'Kojo-no-mai' is a dwarf Fuji Cherry tree with unusual zig-zagging branches and masses of flowers. The small, serrated leaves turn bright pink and red in autumn. It can be grown as a bush or top grafted tree, making it easy to keep very small.

Prunus ‘Kiku-shidare-zakura’, known as the Cheals Weeping Cherry tree, is favoured for its very large double pink flowers and weeping form. The tree will grow to 3 x 3 metres in 20 years and is ideal for growing in large containers. Alternatively, growing to a similar size is Prunus ‘Snow Showers’ that produces masses of single white flowers that cover the pendulous branches.

A new arrival, Prunus ‘Frilly Frock’ is a fantastic dwarf weeping Cherry tree. It has pale pink spring flowers followed by variegated foliage with good autumn colour, providing interest from spring through to autumn. It grows to just 2 x 2 metres in 20 years.

 



Prunus nipponica 'Brilliant'


Prunus 'Kiku-shidare-zakura'


Prunus incisa 'Kojo-no-mai'

Sally
Sally

Ornamental Trees

Sally has worked at Orrnamental Trees for over 7 years and is particularly passionate about growing fruit.