Higan Cherry
Prunus subhirtella
Rosaceae · broadleaf deciduous tree · introduced
Last updated
Data Maturity Structured
This profile synthesizes data from multiple published sources. Expert field review is in progress.
Quick Facts
Height
50–60 ft
Spread
26 ft
Growth Rate
Fast
Light
Sun to Part Shade
Soil
Moist
Water
Moderate
Hardiness
Zone Zones 4a–8b
Bloom Time
April
Origin
Japan
Phenological Calendar
As of April 24, 2026, Puget Sound stations range from 1455.1 to 1613.4 GDD₃₂. Higan Cherry has passed 'full bloom' (838 GDD₃₂).
Regional Season Tracker
GDD₃₂ accumulation across 7 Puget Sound stations · as of Apr 24, 2026| Station | GDD₃₂ | Current Stage | Next | To Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issaquah / East King | 1,613 | 'Full bloom' | — | — |
| Seattle / UW | 1,574 | 'Full bloom' | — | — |
| Kent / Auburn | 1,559 | 'Full bloom' | — | — |
| Olympia / Tumwater | 1,524 | 'Full bloom' | — | — |
| Bellingham / Whatcom | 1,504 | 'Full bloom' | — | — |
| Tacoma / Puyallup | 1,492 | 'Full bloom' | — | — |
| Sequim / Rain Shadow | 1,455 | 'Full bloom' | — | — |
| Stage | GDD32 | Typical Window |
|---|---|---|
| 'First bloom' BBCH '61' | 754 | '' |
| ● 'Full bloom' BBCH '65' NOW | 838 | '' |
Range: 500–669 GDD₃₂
(6yr)
GDD = Growing Degree Days (base 32°F, Jan 1 start). Why base 32? Source GDD₅₀ thresholds from Herms 2004 (OSU, Secrest Arboretum, Ohio) and UMD IPMnet (Gill & Klick, mid-Atlantic), converted to GDD₃₂ via Kent bloom-date mapping. Season tracker for Kent / Auburn as of Apr 24, 2026. Predicted dates use 16-day weather forecast through May 10, 2026, then climate normals.
Diseases (53)
Witches'-broom (Cherry leaf curl) Verticillium dahliae Verticillium Wilt Stigmina carpophila Shothole (Coryneum Blight) 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 Gumming (Gummosis) Abiotic or frost injury 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 ostoyae Armillaria Root Rot Monilinia fructicola and M Brown Rot Plum pox virus (PPV) Plum Pox (Sharka) Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni Red Spot Fruit Blemish (Freckles) Stigmina carpophila or Diaporthe spp. Shothole Chondrostereum purpureum Silver Leaf Limb and 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 Gumming 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) Blueberry mosaic virus and related viruses Virus Diseases Taphrina pruni Plum Pockets Thekopsora minima and Naohidemyces vaccinii Rust Wilsonomyces carpophilus Coryneum blight (Shothole)
Pests (40)
Drosophila suzukii Spotted-wing drosophila Tetranychidae Spider mite Scolytus rugulosus Shothole borer Diaspidiotus perniciosus San Jose scale Pear slug (Cherry slug) Synanthedon exitiosa Peachtree borer Tortricidae Leafroller Forficula auricularia Earwig Noctuidae Cutworms and Armyworms Cherry fruit fly Enarmonia formosana Cherry bark tortrix Myzus cerasi Black cherry aphid Choreutis pariana Apple-and-thorn skeletonizer Halyomorpha halys Brown marmorated stink bug Hyphantria cunea Fall webworm Anarsia lineatella Peach twig borer Aphidoidea Aphid Choristoneura rosaceana Obliquebanded Leafroller Pear sawfly (pear slug) Otiorhynchus spp. Root weevil Edwardsiana rosae Rose leafhopper Malacosoma spp. Tent caterpillar Western red-humped caterpillar Cacoecimorpha pronubana Carnation tortrix Aculus cornutus Peach silver mite Parthenolecanium spp. Lecanium scale Pear sawfly Schizura concinna Redhumped caterpillar Phorodon humuli Hop aphid Brachycaudus helichrysi Leaf curl plum aphid Scale Coccoidea Scale insect Caliroa cerasi Pear slug Chrysobothris mali Pacific flatheaded borer Archips argyrospila Fruittree leafroller Cicadellidae Leafhopper Nematode, Dagger Nematode, Ring Nematode, Root-lesion Nematodes
Cultivars (4)
'Pendula'
Common name: Weeping Higan Cherry; Mature height: 15–20 ft
Hardy to USDA Zone 5
'Whitcomb'
Common name: Whitcomb Flowering Higan Cherry; Mature height: 20–25 ft
Hardy to USDA Zone 4
'Yae Shidare Higan'
Common name: Yae-shedare Higan Cherry Double Weeping Higan Cherry; Mature height: 15–20 ft
Hardy to USDA Zone 6
'Accolade'
Hybrid (Prunus sargentii × P. subhirtella); semi-double pink flowers; vase-shaped
Hardy to USDA Zone 5