Weeping Higan Cherry

Researched by Kiara Ward

Species:  Prunus x subhirtella
Common name: Weeping Cherry Tree, Higan Cherry Tree, Weeping Japanese Cherry
Family:  Rosaceae (Rose Family)
Clade:  Angiosperms (flowering seed plants)

Coordinates: 39.70898176, -75.12181404

Tree Tag: 605
A tag using this number is placed near the tree.

Weeping higan cherry trees are part of the plant family Rosaceae, which is commonly known as the Rose family. This family has many ornamental trees and fruits, including pear, crabapple, and other types of cherry trees. Prunus subhirtella is believed to have originated in China but was cultivated in Japan starting in the 8th century and became a symbol of Japanese culture. Many people enjoy the weeping branches and use them to add beauty to their gardens. 

Many trees are appreciated for their flowers and fruits, but this variety of cherry trees is admired for its branches. The branches have a drooping or “weeping” phenotype, which gives the weeping cherry tree its name. The trunk may appear weird and unusual because the tree was grafted to create the desired weeping appearance. Grafting is a technique that allows one to propagate a specific type of plant asexually, and it is faster and sometimes more reliable than planting a tree from seed. Many edible Rosaceae fruits, like apples, pears, cherries, and peaches, are propagated via grafting, and entire orchards can have the same genetic clone. Some horticulturists have grafted 40 different species of fruits onto a single tree simply by fusing branches from different species together.  Read More