Okame Flowering Cherry is a small upright deciduous tree with a rounded crown and reddish-brown bark with prominent horizontal stripes. The simple leaves can turn between a bronzy-red, red or bright orange in fall. An early spring bloomer, the mildly fragrant rosy pink flowers can be harmed by a late freeze.  Flowers best in full sun and rich moist well-drained soils.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  Medium Maintenance. Pests and diseases can be a problem.  Watch for aphids, scale, borers, caterpillars, beetles and spider mites. Potential diseases include leaf spot, dieback, leaf curl, powdery mildew, root rot, and fireblight.  Cherries have weak wood and are susceptible to breakage.

LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Naturalized Areas,  Wildlife Gardens, and Shade Tree.

COMPANION PLANTS: Viburnum, Lilac, Butterfly Bush

IMAGES: (Tree) Famartin, 2016-03-12 10 26 24 Okame Cherries blooming at the Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church in Lawrence, New Jersey, CC BY-SA 4.0

(Flowers) Famartin, 2015-04-13 10 31 19 Okame Cherry flowers along 5th Street in Ewing, New Jersey, CC BY-SA 4.0

(Bark) Photo by David J. Stang, Prunus x incam Okame 1zz, CC BY-SA 4.0

(Leaves) Photo by David J. Stang, Prunus x incam Okame 4zz, CC BY-SA 4.0