Minnesota cherry

[bonsaiDerek]

just wondering.... have any Minnesota bonsai growers tried to make bonsai from Hokkaido Normandale? sounds like the only cherry tree that will survive our cold.
wonder if anyone has used this species
thanks

 

[Frozentreehugger]

Prunus Sargentii or Japanese hill cherry . Is the most cold hardy of the cherry trees in Japan . Cold hardy to usda zone 4 .It is a unique tree separate species . Compared to Prunus serulata . Japanese flowering cherry . The tree your referring to appears at first glance to be a cultivar of sargentii . I live I. USDA zone 4 Ottawa Ontario Canada . I’m attempting to do exactly what you are suggesting . My first attempt is from seed . Started last spring . I believe they are not coming true to form but are growing . My second attempt will be this spring from cuttings . Collected from the cultivar Rancho . I have not succeeded in finding a nursery supplier . That has sargentii . Here in Canada . If you have access to a tree what is stopping you from trying . The leaves and flowers are both larger on sargentii . Than serulatu . But many consider it better looking . Many prunus species trees and seeds are banned . From crossing the Canada /USA border . Going both ways . Disease and pest protection of these fruit bearing trees . Is the reason . Good luck and stay in touch if you decide to try .

 

[bonsaiDerek]

thanks for your reply, i gatherered some seeds this weekend from a park that has them growing, stratifiying them now, and will plant them in the spring. A few nurseries here in the twin cities sell them, so ill try that too
id love to see some pictures of your seedlings

 

[Frozentreehugger]

My seedlings and the cuttings are in winter storage . I’ll get pics in the spring . I don’t have a lot of expectations for the cuttings . I took them after the tree entered dormancy . There apparently hard to grow from cuttings . But without seeds or nursery stock . That’s my options . I’m at a loss as to why the trees are not common . In the north USA and this part of Canada . Everyone wants a flowering tree in there garden and so few cold hardy options . One would think sargentii is a no brainer . We have cherry plum . Which. I think my seedlings are pollinated with . 1 seedling has purple leaves . The others are green all 3 came from fruit from the same tree . I should have more but . I over estimated. There early life love if full sun . Last spring

 

[bonsaiDerek]

I agree, think they would be very popular, maybe because they are a newer cultivar that not many people know about here in the states

 

[Eckhoffw]

Maybe check out Wowza cherry bush. Prunus fruticosa x Prunus cerasus 'Big Red' PP32782
Hardiness zones 2-7! A dwarf variety.
I have one in the ground that I’m trying to grow out.

 

[KikurageOtomo]

If you're interested in analogous options as well. Prunus virginana is hardy to all ranges of Minnesota, Prunus mahaleb is hardy to zone 4 so with adequate overwintering you could see success with that as well. Prunus tomentosa is exceptionally cold hardy as well but it gravitates toward a shrub style of growth, so that's worth keeping in mind depending on your artistic vision.

 

[Frozentreehugger]

Maybe check out Wowza cherry bush. Prunus fruticosa x Prunus cerasus 'Big Red' PP32782
Hardiness zones 2-7! A dwarf variety.
I have one in the ground that I’m trying to grow out.

Would like to hear. About them as in growth . Success you have achieved . Ups and downs

 

[Lutonian]

Prunus tomentosa is hardy to zone 2 (not a real cherry technically) it flowers only after a few years from seed so is quick to fruit and flower and has good bark. It is more of a suckering shrub than a tree trunks single trunks can be built with the same method as you would build a single trunk azalea

 

[Frozentreehugger]

thanks for your reply, i gatherered some seeds this weekend from a park that has them growing, stratifiying them now, and will plant them in the spring. A few nurseries here in the twin cities sell them, so ill try that too
id love to see some pictures of your seedlings

Found a pic this is from last June . Seeds germinated in spring . Notice the one has purple leaves the other 2 are green . Fruit from same tree . Thought it was sargentii. But further digging info . Says possible cross pollination nearby there is cherry plum . Interestingly my phone plant app says the purple one is . Cherry plum . The green ones are . Japanese cherry . Which is unlikely in USDA zone 4 . My research leads to all kinds of cross pollination is possible in prunus . One of the ways new cultivars are created . Plant seeds from un known pollination . In large quantity and see what you get .

 

[bonsaiDerek]

Prunus Sargentii or Japanese hill cherry . Is the most cold hardy of the cherry trees in Japan . Cold hardy to usda zone 4 .It is a unique tree separate species . Compared to Prunus serulata . Japanese flowering cherry . The tree your referring to appears at first glance to be a cultivar of sargentii . I live I. USDA zone 4 Ottawa Ontario Canada . I’m attempting to do exactly what you are suggesting . My first attempt is from seed . Started last spring . I believe they are not coming true to form but are growing . My second attempt will be this spring from cuttings . Collected from the cultivar Rancho . I have not succeeded in finding a nursery supplier . That has sargentii . Here in Canada . If you have access to a tree what is stopping you from trying . The leaves and flowers are both larger on sargentii . Than serulatu . But many consider it better looking . Many prunus species trees and seeds are banned . From crossing the Canada /USA border . Going both ways . Disease and pest protection of these fruit bearing trees . Is the reason . Good luck and stay in touch if you decide to try .

im going to get cuttings of the hokkaido normandale this spring..... what month did you start your cuttings? what soil and method did you use?
thanks

 

[Frozentreehugger]

im going to get cuttings of the hokkaido normandale this spring..... what month did you start your cuttings? what soil and method did you use?
thanks

I tried cuttings early this spring . And again mid summer . Growing medium was primarily . Absorbent. ( oil dry ) and pumice . The spring cuttings were divided between in the shade covered with clear plastic domes . And in full sun uncovered on sunny hot days and watered with my trees .and allowed. To dry a bit compared to the shade ones . Which were consistent moist. The mid summer ones are in slightly bigger containers . With a little pine . Bark in the mix . Covered with vents open on hot days in semi shade . I called the spring cuttings all failed . And do not have a lot of hope for the mid summer . They lost there leaves . And are in winter storage with my trees . I’m currently trying to source a nursery tree . Thinking air layer will be next attempt

 

[Viridian Bonsai]

I tried cuttings early this spring . And again mid summer . Growing medium was primarily . Absorbent. ( oil dry ) and pumice . The spring cuttings were divided between in the shade covered with clear plastic domes . And in full sun uncovered on sunny hot days and watered with my trees .and allowed. To dry a bit compared to the shade ones . Which were consistent moist. The mid summer ones are in slightly bigger containers . With a little pine . Bark in the mix . Covered with vents open on hot days in semi shade . I called the spring cuttings all failed . And do not have a lot of hope for the mid summer . They lost there leaves . And are in winter storage with my trees . I’m currently trying to source a nursery tree . Thinking air layer will be next attempt

How did your Prunus sargentii seedlings fare through the last winter? I’m hesitant to try growing them here in Calgary since I’m sceptical of their Zone 4 hardiness.

I have been successful with overwintering Prunus nigra, Prunus mandshurica, and Prunus sibirica here though. They haven’t flowered yet for me since they’re still young seedlings but they survive winter without dieback. I’m testing these out since I’m desperate for a Prunus mume lookalike that can survive these unpleasant winters, haha! Prunus mandshurica and Prunus sibirica are extremely close relatives of Prunus mume since they are also in the Prunus sect . Armeniaca and thus, have very similar flowers!

 

[Frozentreehugger]

How did your Prunus sargentii seedlings fare through the last winter? I’m hesitant to try growing them here in Calgary since I’m sceptical of their Zone 4 hardiness.

I have been successful with overwintering Prunus nigra, Prunus mandshurica, and Prunus sibirica here though. They haven’t flowered yet for me since they’re still young seedlings but they survive winter without dieback. I’m testing these out since I’m desperate for a Prunus mume lookalike that can survive these unpleasant winters, haha! Prunus mandshurica and Prunus sibirica are extremely close relatives of Prunus mume since they are also in the Prunus sect . Armeniaca and thus, have very similar flowers!

Maybe I was not clear . I’m yet to be successful rooting cuttings from sargenti . The others I have not tried . Other than nigra . Where did you get your nigra as it’s a little difficult to source , as for cold hardy version of mune . The bonsai purest will take offence . Won’t be the first time . but that will be the plums . Apricot and plum are essentially the same fruit . If your growing nigra . Then that makes 2 of us . I have a thread started on them would welcome your input there .

 

[Viridian Bonsai]

Maybe I was not clear . I’m yet to be successful rooting cuttings from sargenti . The others I have not tried . Other than nigra . Where did you get your nigra as it’s a little difficult to source , as for cold hardy version of mune . The bonsai purest will take offence . Won’t be the first time . but that will be the plums . Apricot and plum are essentially the same fruit . If your growing nigra . Then that makes 2 of us . I have a thread started on them would welcome your input there .

I got my Prunus nigra from a local tree farm east of Calgary called Namaka Ridge. I heard that they’re difficult to grow from seed so I decided to buy seedlings, haha. Sometime, I’d like to track down the cultivar ‘Princess Kay’ since it has beautiful double blooms!

Don’t get me wrong, if Ume could survive here I would definitely grow them instead since there is a plethora of bloom shapes and colours that don’t exist with the related species! Although, Prunus mandshurica is so similar in regards to flower shape and leaf shape that I’m not TOO bothered that I can’t grow Ume here.

 

[Viridian Bonsai]

I’d also like to try Prunus pensylvanica since I’ve seen some native ones blooming in spring and the flowers are quite attractive! It seems like the flowers open a few days before the foliage flushes or they open at the same time depending on the tree. Extremely cold hardy as well.

 

[Frozentreehugger]

I’d also like to try Prunus pensylvanica since I’ve seen some native ones blooming in spring and the flowers are quite attractive! It seems like the flowers open a few days before the foliage flushes or they open at the same time depending on the tree. Extremely cold hardy as well.

I have some young prunus pens . Pm me or go to my . Canada plum propagation help . Thread and we can chat . I don’t want to highjack this thread .