I really want to add a tree to my garden, but logistics and budget demand that I plant a sapling and nurture it into a healthy tree.
I really like cherry blossom, so a cherry tree would be ideal. It's not necessary that the tree bear fruit, though that'd be a nice bonus for the local birds.
What's the fastest-growing variety of cherry tree that will give me lovely cherry blossoms? What can I do to encourage growth and keep the tree healthy?
One of the fastest growing cherry trees is the Kanzan cherry (Prunus serrulata) which is native to Japan, Korea and neighbouring areas. It is primarily grown as an ornamental tree all over the world for its flowers and rarely bears fruit (this is exactly what you want!). If you've ever seen a stock picture of a cherry blossom and thought "WoW!", then most likely, that tree was a Kanzan cherry.
It is also commonly spelled (or misspelled) as "Kwanzan", so if you're searching, you might also want to include that term. From this website that sells trees, Kanzan cherry trees are
- Hardiest of all cherry trees
- Rapidly grows to a mature height of 30-40 ft.
It also says this about the blossoms:
The Kwanzan Flowering Cherry Tree is easily the showiest of all Cherry Trees. Its flowers aren’t just pink… but “Double Pink,” meaning you get twice as many blooms as found on other trees.
Although you haven't mentioned what climate you live in, it doesn't seem like it will be a problem, as the tree
Thrives in almost any soil and climate. Easily grown in zones 5-9.
