Plant of the Month: Okame Cherry

If you’ve noticed a tree with gorgeous rosy pink flowers in the past week, you’ve been introduced to the Okame Cherry. This particular cherry is a great tree for a multitude of reasons, but the most important is the beautiful flowers that have already started to appear.

As the first cherry to bloom in our area, the Okame’s arrival signals the end of winter and the start of spring. The pink blossoms are long lived (typically 2 to 3 weeks) and have a welcome mild fragrance to remind you that sunny days and warmer weather are here to stay. If you add the Okame Cherry to your own landscape, you’ll also appreciate its color later in the year. Glorious shades of yellow, orange and red appear when the nighttime temperatures begin to cool off in September and October.

The Okame is a small- to medium-size ornamental tree at maturity—approximately 20 feet tall and wide—with an upright, vase shaped crown. Plant it in a sunny spot to get the best flower display, but be sure it’s protected from local deer so you can enjoy its beauty every year as the seasons change.