Overview

Introduce timeless elegance and year-round beauty to your garden with the Autumnalis Flowering Cherry, a truly remarkable ornamental tree. This live plant, arriving in a convenient 2.5-inch pot, is cherished for its exceptional characteristic of blooming not just in spring, but also intermittently throughout the fall and even into mild winter periods. Known botanically as Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’, this deciduous tree offers a delicate display of semi-double, pale pink flowers that gracefully fade to white. Its distinctive flowering habit ensures your landscape remains vibrant and captivating during seasons when most other trees are dormant, making it a standout choice for any garden.

The Autumnalis Flowering Cherry is not only celebrated for its unique blooming schedule but also for its beautiful foliage. Its leaves emerge bronze, mature to a lush green in summer, and then transform into striking shades of orange, red, and yellow in autumn, adding another layer of visual interest to your outdoor space. This adaptable and hardy tree grows into a graceful, vase-shaped form, maturing into a rounded canopy that provides light shade and an appealing focal point. Whether you’re looking to create a serene garden retreat or add a touch of sophistication to your yard, this ornamental cherry tree is an excellent selection.

Key Benefits

The Autumnalis Flowering Cherry offers a multitude of benefits that make it a highly desirable addition to any landscape. Its unique attributes provide extended enjoyment and enhance the aesthetic appeal of your outdoor living spaces.

• Extended Bloom Season: Unlike most cherry trees, the Autumnalis Flowering Cherry provides two main blooming periods – a profuse display in spring and a welcome scattering of flowers during mild autumn and winter days, bringing joy when other plants are dormant.
• Stunning Floral Display: Enjoy delicate, semi-double, pale pink flowers that create a soft, ethereal atmosphere in your garden. These exquisite blooms are a visual delight and attract early pollinators.
• Year-Round Interest: Beyond its unique flowering, this tree offers attractive green summer foliage and brilliant orange-red autumn color, ensuring your garden remains engaging throughout all seasons.
• Graceful Form: The tree develops an elegant, vase-shaped habit with spreading branches, making it a beautiful specimen plant or an excellent choice for avenue planting.
• Moderate Growth Rate: It grows at a moderate pace, allowing you to enjoy its beauty without an excessively long wait, yet it remains manageable in size for most home gardens.
• Attracts Wildlife: The flowers provide a valuable nectar source for early pollinators, while the small fruits (though often sparse) can attract birds, contributing to local biodiversity.
• Adaptable and Hardy: This resilient tree is known for its hardiness and ability to thrive in a range of soil conditions, provided they are well-draining, making it suitable for various climates.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Autumnalis Flowering Cherry ensures it thrives and provides its beautiful dual-season blooms for years to come. This hardy tree is relatively low-maintenance once established, making it a rewarding choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. Proper siting and initial care are crucial for its success.

Sunlight Requirements: The Autumnalis Flowering Cherry performs best in a location that receives full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. While it can tolerate partial shade, too little sun may reduce the abundance of its characteristic blooms and diminish the intensity of its fall foliage color. Ensure it has good air circulation to prevent fungal issues. Watering Schedule: During its first year, water your newly planted Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’ regularly and deeply, about 2-3 times a week, especially during dry spells, to help establish a strong root system. Once established, it is moderately drought-tolerant but will benefit from supplemental watering during prolonged dry periods, particularly when flowering or in extreme heat. Avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot.

Soil Type and Drainage: This ornamental cherry tree prefers well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. It can adapt to various soil types, including clay, loam, and sand, as long as they are not waterlogged. Improve heavy clay soils by amending them with organic matter like compost before planting to enhance drainage. Temperature Range and USDA Hardiness Zone: The Autumnalis Flowering Cherry is cold-hardy and thrives in USDA Zones 5-8. It can tolerate winter temperatures down to -20°F (-29°C). In warmer zones, ensure it receives adequate water during hot summers. Fertilization: Fertilize in early spring before new growth begins, using a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer formulated for trees and shrubs. Follow the product instructions carefully to avoid over-fertilization. Once established, mature trees may only need fertilization every 2-3 years. Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring while the tree is dormant to remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches. You can also lightly prune to maintain its desired shape. Avoid heavy pruning in late spring or summer, as this can remove flower buds for the following season. Common Problems: This tree is generally resistant to many pests and diseases, but can occasionally be affected by aphids, spider mites, or cherry leaf spot. Monitor your tree regularly and treat any issues promptly with appropriate organic or chemical solutions.

Size & Details

This Autumnalis Flowering Cherry live plant is carefully cultivated and shipped in a 2.5-inch nursery pot, providing a healthy start for your garden. At the time of shipment, the young tree typically stands approximately 8-12 inches tall, ready for planting and establishment in its new home. It exhibits a moderate growth rate, generally adding 12-24 inches of height per year under optimal conditions. Over time, this beautiful ornamental cherry tree will mature to a height of 20-30 feet with a similar spread, forming a graceful, rounded canopy that offers light shade.

The tree will begin to show its characteristic dual-season blooms within a few years of planting, with more abundant flowering as it establishes and matures. It is shipped as a well-rooted, young specimen, ensuring a smooth transition to your landscape. With proper care, you can expect this resilient tree to become a long-lasting and cherished feature of your outdoor space, providing a unique display of flowers during unexpected times of the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Autumnalis Flowering Cherry get? A: The Autumnalis Flowering Cherry typically grows to a mature height of 20-30 feet with a similar spread. It has a moderate growth rate, adding 1-2 feet per year once established.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: This Autumnalis Flowering Cherry live plant is shipped in a 2.5-inch nursery pot. It is a young, well-rooted specimen ready for planting in your garden.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Autumnalis Flowering Cherry is an outdoor tree. It requires full sun and is best suited for planting directly in the ground in USDA Zones 5-8.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This tree thrives in full sun, meaning it needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to produce the most abundant blooms and best fall color.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the Autumnalis Flowering Cherry is considered relatively easy to care for once established. It requires regular watering during its first year, but becomes quite hardy and low-maintenance thereafter. It’s a great choice for gardeners looking for a unique and resilient ornamental cherry tree.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’ will arrive as a healthy, live plant in its 2.5-inch nursery pot, carefully packaged to ensure its safety during transit.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: Young Autumnalis Flowering Cherry trees typically begin to show their characteristic blooms within 2-4 years of planting, with flowering becoming more prolific as the tree matures.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: The best time to plant your Autumnalis Flowering Cherry is in early spring or early fall, allowing the roots ample time to establish before extreme summer heat or winter cold.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: Yes, this fall blooming cherry is hardy in USDA Zones 5-8 and is well-adapted to survive cold winters within these zones, often even providing scattered blooms during mild periods.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature it can tolerate? A: The Autumnalis Flowering Cherry can tolerate winter temperatures down to approximately -20°F (-29°C) when planted in its recommended hardiness zones.