# Weeping Cherry (*Prunus itosakura Siebold*)

The Weeping Cherry tree is known for its graceful, drooping branches and beautiful pink or white blossoms in spring. It provides a lovely sight in gardens and parks.

- **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Gardens, Parks
- **Also known as:** Japanese Weeping Cherry, Weeping Cherry Blossom

![Weeping Cherry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Edohikan_%28Prunus_pendula_Maxim_f._ascendens_Ohwi%29_in_Shinjuku_Gyoen%252C_Tokyo%252C_Japan_-_20110404-01.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Arashiyama ., CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edohikan_%28Prunus_pendula_Maxim_f._ascendens_Ohwi%29_in_Shinjuku_Gyoen%252C_Tokyo%252C_Japan_-_20110404-01.jpg)

## Appearance

The Weeping Cherry has a graceful, cascading form with branches that drape towards the ground, creating a dome of foliage. In spring, it bursts into a spectacular display of delicate pink or white blossoms before its green leaves fully emerge. Its bark is typically dark and smooth.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Rosales
- **Family:** Rosaceae
- **Genus:** Prunus

## Interesting facts

- In Japan, these trees are a cherished symbol of spring and new beginnings.
- Its iconic 'weeping' branches are thanks to a special genetic mutation!
- Many varieties bloom \*before\* their leaves appear, creating a breathtaking floral cloud.
- The tiny, sour cherries it produces are usually too bitter for humans to eat!

## Special abilities

- **Flexible Branches:** Weeping Cherry has pliable branches that naturally cascade downwards, creating its signature graceful, weeping shape.
- **Early Bloom:** Weeping Cherry can produce a stunning abundance of flowers very early in spring, attracting active pollinators.
- **Pollinator Magnet:** Its profusion of fragrant blossoms acts as a strong beacon, helping it attract numerous insects for successful pollination.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 2-8 m
- **Spread:** 3-7 m
- **Edible:** No
- **Size:** 30-60 cm
- **Lifespan:** 20-50 years
- **Fruit Type:** Drupe
- **Growth Rate:** Medium
- **Leaf Type:** Deciduous

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen from its flowers
- **Pollinates:** Painted Lady Butterfly (*Vanessa cardui*) — visits flowers for nectar, aiding in pollination
- **Eaten by:** Eastern Tent Caterpillar (*Malacosoma americanum*) — caterpillars munch on its tender leaves
- **Eats:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — small birds sometimes snack on its tiny, sour fruits

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Pendulous Form](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pendulous-form): Describing a plant or anatomical structure that droops or hangs downwards.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

## Collections

- [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Enjoy the beauty of Weeping Cherry trees from a safe distance and avoid climbing them.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Weeping Cherry?

Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Weeping Cherry?

2-8 m

### How wide does Weeping Cherry spread?

3-7 m

### Is Weeping Cherry edible?

No

### How big is Weeping Cherry?

30-60 cm

### How long does Weeping Cherry live?

20-50 years

### Where is Weeping Cherry usually found?

Gardens, Parks

### What kind of fruit does Weeping Cherry produce?

Drupe

## Where to spot

- [Awbury Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/awbury-arboretum) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden
- [Goryokaku Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/goryokaku-park) — Hokkaido, JP · Park

## More Trees

- [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*)
- [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*)
- [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*)
- [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*)

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Source: [Weeping Cherry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/weeping-cherry)