Sargent Cherry

'Full bloom'

Prunus sargentii

Rosaceae · broadleaf deciduous tree · introduced

Last updated

Prunus sargentii (Rosaceae) is a deciduous tree native to Japan, Korea, and Sakhalin. It grows to 50 to 60 feet tall with an upright, spreading crown. Single pink flowers appear in early spring before the foliage emerges. New leaves unfurl in bronze to reddish tones. Fall color is one of the earliest and most reliable among ornamental cherries, turning orange-red to brilliant red.

Sargent cherry grows in full sun on well-drained soil. It is one of the hardiest and most disease-resistant ornamental cherries, and one of the largest. The species is valued as a street and park tree. Hardy in Zones 5a to 8b.

Plant Profile

Size & Form

Height
25 ft
Spread
49 ft
Growth Rate
Medium

Site Requirements

Light
Sun to Part Shade
Soil Drainage
Moist
Soil pH
4.5-8.5
Water
Moderate
Drought Tolerance
Moderate
Hardiness
Zones 3–3

Ornamental Interest

Bloom Time
April
Fall Color
Bronze
Origin
Korea and northern Japan
Watch for this season
Coryneum blight (Shothole)High

Primary Infection - Flowers and Young Leaves

Cytospora CankerHigh

Peak Spore Production and Dispersal

Powdery MildewHigh

Active Conidial Spread

RustHigh

Uredinial Stage (Summer)

+ 17 more — see full disease and pest lists below

Diseases: Regionally Documented (51)

Witches'-broom (Cherry leaf curl) Verticillium dahliae Verticillium Wilt Wilsonomyces carpophilus Coryneum blight (Shothole) Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) Prunus Necrotic Ringspot Multiple obligate biotrophic fungi (Erysiphales: Erysipha... Powdery Mildew Necrotic rusty mottle virus (uncharacterized) Necrotic rusty mottle Mottle leaf Little cherry virus-1 and Little cherry virus-2 Little Cherry Symptom category — not a single disease Leaf Spot Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (bacterial canker complex) Dead Bud Cytospora spp. (Valsa spp., Leucostoma spp.) Cytospora Canker Rhizobium radiobacter (formerly Agrobacterium tumefaciens) Crown Gall Monilinia fructicola and M Brown Rot Blossom Blight and Fruit Rot Apiosporina morbosa Black Knot Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae Bacterial Canker Armillaria spp. — primarily A Armillaria Root Rot Plum pox virus (PPV) Plum Pox (Sharka) Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni Red Spot Fruit Blemish (Freckles) Chondrostereum purpureum Silver Leaf Multiple Basidiomycete fungi cause wood decay in trees Wood Decay An uncharacterized Black Canker Cherry twisted leaf-associated virus Cherry Twisted Leaf Believed to Crinkle Leaf and Deep Suture Eola rasp Eola Rasp Leaf (Yellow Bud Mosaic) Although bacterial Fungal Cankers June Drop Grapevine leafroll virus Leafroll Uncharacterized graft Necrotic Rusty Mottle (Lambert Mottle) and Rusty Mottle Phytophthora spp. (P Phytophthora Root Rot Multiple fungal agents Pitting Many fungi Postharvest Rots Prune dwarf Prune Dwarf Cherry rasp Rasp Leaf Pythium spp., Phytophthora spp., Rhizoctonia spp., Fusari... Replant Disease This problem Rosette [VERIFY] (multiple possible causes) Rugose Several causes Stem Pitting Cherry leafroll virus (CLRV); complex with prune dwarf vi... Virus-induced Cherry Decline Raspberry bushy dwarf virus and related viruses Virus Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni X-Disease Taphrina deformans Leaf Curl Russeting Chrysomyxa piperiana Rusty Spot Split Pit Sprinkler Rot (Phytophthora Fruit Rot) Taphrina pruni Plum Pockets Multiple genera (Melampsoridium, Thekopsora, Naohidemyces... Rust Xiphinema americanum and related species Nematode, Dagger Mesocriconema spp Nematode, Ring Pratylenchus penetrans (primary) and P Nematode, Root-lesion Various plant-parasitic nematode genera Nematodes

Pests: Regionally Documented (31)

Phenological Calendar

As of June 3, 2026, Puget Sound stations range from 2435.5 to 2672.8 GDD₃₂. Sargent Cherry has passed 'full bloom' (825 GDD₃₂).

Regional Season Tracker

GDD₃₂ accumulation across 7 Puget Sound stations · as of Jun 3, 2026
Station GDD₃₂ Current Stage Next To Go
Issaquah / East King 2,673 'Full bloom' — —
Kent / Auburn 2,665 'Full bloom' — —
Seattle / UW 2,610 'Full bloom' — —
Olympia / Tumwater 2,570 'Full bloom' — —
Tacoma / Puyallup 2,535 'Full bloom' — —
Bellingham / Whatcom 2,533 'Full bloom' — —
Sequim / Rain Shadow 2,436 'Full bloom' — —
View full calendar (2 stages)
Stage GDD32 Typical Window
'First bloom' BBCH '61' 754 ''
● 'Full bloom' BBCH '65' NOW 825 ''
Regional estimate
Range: 500–669 GDD₃₂ (6yr)

Source: 'Master catalog (OSU, UMD), converted GDD50->GDD32 via Kent bloom-date mapping' About GDD₃₂ →

Season tracker for Kent / Auburn as of Jun 3, 2026. Predicted dates use 16-day weather forecast through Jun 19, 2026, then climate normals.

Cultivars (2)
'Columnaris'
Common name: Columnar Sargent Cherry; Mature height: 35 ft
Hardy to USDA Zone 4
'JFS-KW58'
Data Maturity
Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.