Prunus serrulata ‘Kwanzan’
A small to medium-sized tree, growing to about 8 meters it is commonly seen as street trees and is named after the Japanese Mountain in which they were discovered. It has double whorls of light pink flowers and its fruits are black in colour. It leaves are a light green turning to a bronze-orange in autumn.
Styles and Sizes: They make delightful, small to medium bonsai in most upright styles.
Position: Loves a full sun aspect, especially if you would like it to flower profusely. Any extraordinarily hardy and tolerant species.
Watering: It loves it moisture but deteriorates rapidly in water-logged soils. Water thoroughly early morning and allow the soil surface to dry out before watering again.
Feeding: Feed with organic fertiliser, every two weeks with a liquid feed or every two months if using a pelletised feed.
Repotting: It grows in moist, fertile soils so repoting every year can be beneficial. Best repot in autumn after flowering and fruiting. Use a free-draining soil, of loam, sharp sand and well-mulched bark in equal parts. Alternatively, you can use Akadama and pumice in a ratio of 2:1 by volume.
Pruning: New shoots should be cut back to 3 later shoots, or active buds after 5-7 leaves have formed. They sucker regularly, and they need to be pruned away to encourage a stronger trunk. Pruning back hard every few years will promote stronger growth.
Wiring: Shaping is primarily done with the ‘clip and grow’ method of pruning, and wiring is not necessary. If needed the cherry can be wired in autumn and wire removed before flowering starts.