Ornamental Cherry
Best varieties: Yoshino (Somei-Yoshino), Akebono (pink cloud), Kwanzan (double pink), Okame (early, compact)
Easy
Tree
❄️ Frost Hardy
🐾 Pet Safe
🌲 PNW Growing Notes
Seattle is famous for cherry blossoms—the UW Quad’s Yoshino cherries draw thousands each spring. Fast-growing, stunning display. Short-lived (30–50 years) but worth every year.
☀️ Light
Full sun (6+ hrs)
💧 Water
Regular when young, moderate once established
🪨 Soil
Well-drained, pH 6.0–7.0
📏 Spacing
240" apart
📅 Planting Timeline (Seattle)
🪴
Transplant Outdoors
Fall or spring (bare root) or anytime (potted)
🌸
Bloom Season
Mar–Apr (2–3 week peak bloom)
💡 Pro Tip
Yoshino cherries bloom earliest (late March). Kwanzan blooms later with double flowers that last longer. Visit the UW campus or Seward Park for Seattle’s best displays.
🤝 Companion Planting
✅ Good Companions
Daffodils, Azaleas, Ferns