The difference between an ordinary cherry tree and a decorative one is that the decorative varieties do not bear fruit. This means that no rotten fruit falls to the ground and your grounds also attract less furry creatures and birds.
Decorative cherry trees are used in yards simply because they are so beautiful. Every spring they shoot out and snow an array of beautiful pink blossoms.
Here are some examples of common types of Cherry Trees that are perfect for decorating yards.
The Kwanzan Cherry trees are large hardy trees that grow over forty feet tall. The blossoms are a strong dark pink color and grow in clusters. The tree will blossom both in April and in the Fall. The tree grows just fine in USDA Hardiness zones from 4 to 9. It thrives in almost any soil.
The Okame Cherry Tree variety grows as tall as it is wide; thirty feet in height and thirty feet in spread. It’s pink blossoms are famous as part of the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. It grows in most soils but needs full sun to do it’s best.
The Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry a dwarf variety of cherry tree that grows up to fifteen feet tall and has a spread of about eight fee. The tree grows long, downwards tilting branches that are slathered in small white flowers in the spring. The tree grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zones 4 through 8. This versatile smaller tree resists pests, but it also grows very slowly.
The Yoshino Cherry Tree is a traditional Japanese variety that grows up to fifty feet tall and forty feet wide. It has glossy bark, dark green leaves and light pink flowers and it does best in well-drained soils. It does best in USDA zones 5 to 8.
The Weeping Higan Cherry grows to be 300 feet tall with a branch-spread of 25 feet. It spews forth pale pink blossoms in the Spring before the tree even has a chance to grow leaves. The flowers grow up to one inch in diameter. The tree is okay to grow in shade and grows in Hardiness zones 5a to 8b. This tree also grows very fast.
The good news is that these trees come in a variety of sizes and there is a variety to suit every kind of climate. This makes it a versatile decorative tree to grow in any garden.