Fall Blooming 'Autumnalis' Cherry

Autumnalis cherry (Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’) is a long-lived, fast growing flowering cherry. This variety of higan cherry grows to medium size, 20-40 feet in height and 15-30 feet in spread.

Autumnalis produces a heavy bloom of semi-double pink flowers in spring and again, in sparse numbers in autumn (mid-October) in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). Fall flowering trait is often over-hyped, equal to perhaps 5-8% of spring flower numbers. 

Fruits and fall foliage color add little ornamental landscape value. Pea sized black fruits ripen in early autumn and attract numerous birds who feed on the tiny morsels. Autumn foliage turns greenish yellow before abcising.

Higan cherry grows best  in full to partial (6 hours minimum) sunlight and in well-drained soils. It is exceptionally heat and cold hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). Compared to many cherries (Prunus spp.), Higan cherry is resistant to most serious disease problems. 

Be forewarned that Japanese beetles and tent caterpillars may devour summer foliage unless protected with the proper pesticides. Trunk and branch wood is typically reddish brown, covered with raised horizontal lines called “lenticels”. Gardeners often confuse lenticels for scale insects.