Overview

The okame cherry tree is a highly sought-after deciduous ornamental tree, celebrated for its spectacular display of vibrant pink flowers that herald the arrival of spring. Known for blooming earlier than many other cherry varieties, often even before its leaves fully emerge, this tree creates a breathtaking visual spectacle in any garden or landscape. Our okame cherry plant is shipped as a healthy, live specimen in a convenient quart-sized pot, ready to be planted and admired. This particular variety, Prunus incisa x campanulata ‘Okame’, offers consistent beauty and a manageable growth habit, making it an excellent choice for both experienced gardeners and those new to growing flowering trees. Its graceful form and striking seasonal changes ensure it remains a focal point throughout the year, providing structure and color to your outdoor space.

As an early blooming ornamental tree, the Okame Cherry is ideal for bringing life and color to your garden when other plants are still dormant. Its delicate, cup-shaped flowers are not only beautiful but also attract early pollinators, contributing to the biodiversity of your yard. Beyond its spring splendor, the tree develops glossy green foliage that transforms into brilliant shades of orange and red in the autumn, extending its ornamental value well into the colder months. This robust and adaptable tree is a wonderful addition for anyone looking to cultivate a dynamic and visually appealing garden with a truly rewarding flowering cherry tree.

Key Benefits

The okame cherry tree offers a multitude of benefits, making it an excellent choice for various landscape designs and garden enthusiasts. Its remarkable characteristics contribute to its popularity and widespread appeal:

• Stunning Early Spring Blooms: Enjoy a magnificent display of bright pink flowers in early spring, often before other trees begin to leaf out. This provides an impactful and beautiful start to the growing season, making it a true early blooming ornamental tree.
• Vibrant Fall Foliage: Beyond its spring flowers, the glossy green leaves of the okame cherry plant turn brilliant shades of orange and red in autumn, offering extended seasonal interest and adding rich color to your landscape.
• Adaptable and Hardy: This variety is known for its hardiness and adaptability to a range of soil conditions, making it relatively easy to grow and maintain in many climates, perfect for a robust flowering cherry tree.
• Manageable Size for Various Landscapes: With a moderate growth rate and mature size, the Okame Cherry is suitable for smaller yards, urban streetscapes, or as a striking accent plant in larger gardens, providing significant ornamental value without overwhelming the space.
• Attracts Pollinators: The early spring flowers provide a valuable nectar source for bees and other early pollinators, supporting local ecosystems and encouraging beneficial insect activity in your garden.
• Shipped as a Live Quart Pot Plant: This quart pot cherry tree arrives as a healthy, established live plant, ensuring a strong start and quicker establishment in your garden compared to bare-root options during the growing season.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your okame cherry tree is straightforward, allowing you to enjoy its beauty with minimal fuss. This resilient flowering cherry tree thrives in conditions that mimic its natural habitat. For optimal growth and prolific blooms, plant your Okame Cherry in a location that receives full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. While it can tolerate partial shade, full sun promotes the best flowering and fall color. Ensure the planting site has well-draining soil; Okame Cherries do not like to sit in waterlogged conditions, which can lead to root rot. A slightly acidic to neutral soil pH (6.0-7.0) is ideal.

When planting your okame cherry plant, dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Carefully remove the plant from its quart pot cherry tree container, loosen any circling roots, and place it in the hole so that the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil. Backfill with soil, gently firming it around the base to remove air pockets, and water thoroughly. Regular watering is crucial during the first year of establishment, ensuring the soil remains consistently moist but not saturated. Once established, the Okame Cherry is moderately drought-tolerant but will benefit from supplemental watering during prolonged dry spells. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer designed for trees and shrubs. Pruning should be done in late spring or early summer after the tree has finished flowering, focusing on removing dead, damaged, or crossing branches to maintain its shape and health. This care routine will help your early blooming ornamental tree flourish for many years.

Size & Details

This okame cherry tree is shipped as a live plant in a quart pot cherry tree, providing a well-established root system for successful transplanting. At maturity, the Okame Cherry typically grows to a height of 20-30 feet with a spread of 15-25 feet, developing an attractive upright to rounded canopy. Its growth rate is moderate, allowing it to reach a noticeable size within a few years while remaining manageable for most residential landscapes. The plant you receive will be a young specimen, ready to establish and grow into its full potential.

The okame cherry plant is valued for its relatively compact size compared to some larger cherry varieties, making it an excellent choice for ornamental planting, streetscapes, and smaller garden spaces where a grand statement is desired without overwhelming the area. It typically begins to bloom in early spring, usually between late February and March, depending on your specific climate zone, providing one of the garden’s first and most anticipated floral displays. This early blooming ornamental tree is a fantastic investment for long-term garden beauty.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Okame Cherry Tree get? A: A mature okame cherry tree typically reaches a height of 20-30 feet and a spread of 15-25 feet, forming an attractive upright to rounded canopy over time.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: This okame cherry plant is shipped as a live plant in a quart pot cherry tree, providing a healthy start with an established root system for planting.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Okame Cherry is an outdoor tree, best suited for planting in your garden or landscape where it can receive adequate sunlight and space to grow.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: For the best flowering and fall color, your early blooming ornamental tree requires full sun, which means at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the Okame Cherry is known for being hardy and relatively easy to grow, making it a good choice for gardeners of varying experience levels. Consistent watering during establishment is key.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your flowering cherry tree will arrive as a healthy, live plant, carefully packaged to ensure its safe transit. During colder months, it may arrive dormant with few or no leaves, which is normal.
• Q: When is the best time to plant an Okame Cherry? A: The best time to plant an Okame Cherry is in early spring or fall, allowing the tree to establish its roots before extreme summer heat or winter cold.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: The Okame Cherry is quite hardy and is generally suitable for USDA Zones 5-9. Please check your specific zone to ensure it’s appropriate for your climate.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: While younger plants might take a year or two to settle, a well-established okame cherry tree will typically begin producing its beautiful pink blossoms in early spring each year.