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Tree Guide

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Sargent CherryPrunus sargentii

  • Sargent Cherry - Prunus sargentii
  • Sargent Cherry - Prunus sargentii
  • Sargent Cherry - Prunus sargentii
Called the “crème de la crème” of flowering cherries, the Sargent cherry offers year-round beauty. Pink blooms adorn the tree in late spring, the leaves unfurl with a purplish or bronze hue that transitions to a shiny dark green into summer, and then red, orange and bronze in the fall; and the winter landscape benefits from its attractive bark.

This faster-growing landscape tree stands out as a specimen in a lawn or landscape bed, but it can also work well along the entry to a subdivision, for commercial landscape in 20' centers, or in the tree lawn space between curb and sidewalk.

Hardiness Zones

The sargent cherry can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 4–7. View Map

Tree Type

This tree is considered both a flowering tree and an ornamental tree. It is typically planted for both its visual interest and profusion of spring flowers.

Mature Size

The Sargent cherry grows to a height of 40–50' and a spread of 40–50' at maturity.

Growth Speed Medium Growth Rate

This tree grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24" per year.

Sun Preference

Full sun is the ideal condition for this tree, meaning it should get at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.

Soil Preference

The Sargent cherry grows in acidic, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, silty loam, well-drained and clay soils. It is drought-tolerant once established.

Attributes

This tree:
  • Produces beautiful pink to deep pink flowers that appear in late April or early May and measure 1–1½".
  • Requires little maintenance once established.
  • Features very attractive, shiny dark green leaves that are 3–5" long with sharply serrated margins. They are a purplish or bronze color as they unfurl.
  • Provides vivid fall color, with leaves turning various shades of red, orange and bronze.
  • Develops lustrous reddish and cinnamon-colored bark with an almost polished appearance.
  • Is less susceptible to disease than other cherries.
  • Is the best of the cherries for street planting.
  • Yields small, inconspicuous red to dark purple fruit in June and July.
  • Grows in a rounded shape.

Wildlife Value

Birds love to eat the tree’s fruit.

History/Lore

This tree is named after Charles Sprague Sargent, the American plant collector who discovered the species in the mountains of northern Japan in 1892.