Prunus serrulata 'Shirotae'

Ornamental cherry 'Shirotae'

synonym Prunus serrulata f. albida
Prunus serrulata 'Mount-Fuji'

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Description

Prunus serrulata ‘Shirotae’ (Ornamental cherry ‘Shirotae’) was distributed in Europe and America from the 20th century onwards under the name ‘Mount Fuji’, referring to the legendary white mountain as a symbol for the tree. However, that led to it being confused with Prunus incisa - otherwise known as the Fuji cherry - and therefore, the name is not recognised as a synonym. Shirotae is the Japanese term for a white textile, made of the bark fibres of Broussonetia papyrifera. The cherry tree was named after it, because the flowers of the cultivar - like the textile - are perfectly white and feel silky soft. Prunus serrulata ‘Shirotae’ has a very flat and wide shape. The selection can grow up to about 5 metres high and more than twice as wide. Branches that grow horizontally will hang more as the tree ages. To properly ensure its horizontal shape, it is best to breed the tree to improve. That will create a standard tree with a flattened, round crown.

Prunus serrulata ‘Shirotae’ blooms abundantly from late April, early May, even more abundantly than all other white Japanese cherry trees. The older the tree, the more overwhelming the blossoms. And that image is reinforced by its amazingly large, half-filled racemes that smell of almonds. Bees love to land on them! The large, serrate leaves bud light green, turn dark green in the summer and yellow-orange in autumn. In its youth, the selection has red-brown bark, and when it gets older it turns grey-green. The Ornamental cherry ‘Shirotae’ does not bear fruit.

Its low, wide and flat shape makes Prunus serrulata ‘Shirotae’ better for use in parks or gardens than in streets. As a multi-stem tree, it is a real eyecatcher in the springtime. The perfect environment for the Ornamental cherry ‘Shirotae’ is sunny and sheltered, in nutrient-rich and lime-rich, but very permeable soil.

Types of planting

Tree types

standard trees multi-stemmed trees solitary shrubs

Topiary on stem

multi-stem umbrella

Use

Location

avenue park central reservation large garden cemetery

Pavement

none

Characteristics

Crown shape

flattened spherical

Crown structure

semi-open

Height

3 - 5 m

Width

6 - 10 m

Winter hardiness zone

6A - 8B

Aspects

Wind

intolerant to wind

Soil

loess sabulous clay light clay sand loamy soil

Nutrient level

rich in nutrients

Soil moisture level

dry moist

Light requirements

sun

pH range

neutral alkaline

7.8 - 8.2

Host plant/forage plant

bees nectar value 3 pollen value 3

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Photos

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standard tree

multi-stem

multi-stem umbrella

flowers

leaves

bark

twigs

Flowers

striking pendulous half filled big scented

Flower colour

white

Flowering period

April - May

Leaves

Leaf colour

dark green buds pale green

Leaves

deciduous ovoid big serrate

Autumn colour

yellow-orange

Fruits

no fruit

Bark

Bark colour

red-brown

Bark

slightly furrowed

Twigs

Twig colour

brown

Twigs

bare with lenticels horizontal branches pendulous

Root system

shallow highly branched

For and by green professionals

The TreeEbb is a platform for and by green professionals, in which we collect knowledge and experience from the sector and make this available for users. All the details and photos are free to use for non-commercial purposes. Want to share your tree knowledge? Send photographs and additional information to treeebb@ebben.nl

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Winter hardiness

A plant's winter hardiness is the coldest area in which it is frost-resistant. This is based on the average annual minimum temperature. Winter hardiness zones are thirteen different frost zones in steps of 5.5 degrees Celsius. This format is an international standard for the hardiness of plants. The zones in which the plant is frost-resistant are always included in the description of trees and other vegetation.

Winter hardiness is a genetic characteristic and is not influenced by the location in which the plant is cultivated. This means that a plant that has been cultivated for many years in winter-hardiness zone 6 but has a winter hardiness of 3 is perfectly suited for replanting in a colder zone. It will thrive there thanks to its genetic characteristics.

When choosing planting for a project, the winter hardiness of the plants is extremely important. By choosing species that match the zone in which the project is being created, it is possible to ensure that plants can withstand the minimum temperature in that area.

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