How do you recognise Higan cherry (Prunus subhirtella)?

Leaf

David J. Stang, Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Higan cherry

Prunus subhirtella Miq.

Also known as: Winter-flowering cherry, Autumn cherry

Family: Rosaceae

5 to 8 m tall, spreading dome-shaped habit

Planted as a specimen in ornamental gardens and urban parks, notably the cultivar 'Autumnalis', which flowers outside spring

Flowering: November to March intermittently (depending on how mild the winter is), then again in April for the typical form

Full sun

Part shade

Very hardy, to -25°C

❓ How do you recognise this plant?

Some of its cultivars can flower in the depths of winter as soon as a mild spell arrives, giving flowers in the midst of the snow. The Japanese cherry flowers in spring with often very double, spectacular flowers, at the same time as the leaves, whereas the Higan cherry flowers from November and intermittently throughout the winter, well before all other ornamental cherries.

🍃 Leaves

Ovate-elliptic toothed leaves, bright green, turning yellow-orange in autumn

🌸 Flowers

Small single or semi-double flowers, pinkish white, appearing in successive waves during mild winter spells on 'Autumnalis'

🍎 Fruits

Small black drupes under 1 cm, with little flesh, rarely noticed

🪵 Bark

Smooth grey-brown bark, marked with horizontal lenticels characteristic of ornamental cherries

🗺️ Distribution

Native to Japan, planted throughout France as an ornamental tree, notably in urban parks

🐝 Value for pollinators

Valuable winter flowering as it provides one of the few sources of nectar available to bees during cold-season mild spells

✂️ Horticultural uses

Planted for its surprising winter flowering (cultivar 'Autumnalis'), adding a touch of blossom to the garden outside spring

⚠️ Possible toxicity

Leaves and stones slightly toxic as in most Prunus

⚠️ Look-alike species

Higan cherry

Prunus subhirtella

Japanese cherry

Prunus serrulata

The Japanese cherry flowers in spring with often very double, spectacular flowers, at the same time as the leaves, whereas the Higan cherry flowers from November and intermittently throughout the winter, well before all other ornamental cherries.

🌿 Other Rosaceae to discover

ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.

🌱 This database is constantly evolving — species and information are added and corrected regularly. Spotted a mistake? Report it below.