Flowering Cherry Blossom Tree problem

13 years ago

I have a 13 year old Cherry tree which flowered every spring and was always healthy - However last spring, an early frost attacked two of it's branches and killed them, (I assume) I removed those branches this spring as there was no new growth... new leaves had grown on other branches, but not a flower bud to be seen, the leaves came out green in color, when normally each spring they are a redish bronze color before the tree flowers, later turning green in the summer months.

The current leaves seem to be very healthy and growing nicely. the tree itself doesn't show any signs of disease...

will it come back next yesr?

any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

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Comments (12)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
i will stand corrected if i am wrong.. but most trees set the buds the fall prior ...

so you have 2 seasons for injury .. based on the history you provide

an early hard winter.. before the tree is hardened off for winter ... [like due to heavy fertilizing late in the season .... as one example]

or a hard frost or freeze after winter... that harms the buds before they get a chance to bloom ....

obviously you had such.. which i dont know.. since you lost the two branches ...

all you can do is hope that next year will be better ....

good luck

ken
Embothrium
13 years ago
Part of the top dying would be likely to be a blight rather than frost, which should affect most of the top.
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Hi there! Kwanzan flowering cherries are quite spectacular in full bloom! If I may recommend something rather drastic: You might have to re-plant the tree to another location--preferably one that is facing east. Should you decide to do this, it would be a good idea to inoculate the exposed roots with mycorrhizal fungi. The mycorrhizal fungi provide beneficial bacteria that increase the uptake of essential nutrients for the strengthening of the root system and the tree as a whole. I would first dip the exposed roots in the liquid form of the fungi and then just before covering the roots, rest at least four packets of the solid form of the fungi upon them. Garden Gro http://www.thegreengro.com/ sells the liquid form and Xtreme Gardening http://www.ebay.com/itm/Xtreme-Gardening-Mykos-10-gram-Root-Paks-20-ct-/150964902917?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0amp;hash=item2326359c05 sells the solid form of the fungi. Then again you might be placing too much stress on the tree by transplanting it. In that case, i recommend using the powdered or liquid form of the mycorrhizal fungi by green gro and inoculate the tree's roots simply by adding it to the top soil. Also, you might want to think about purchasing another variety of cherry blossom that is better suited to thrive in your climate zone. "Pink cloud" is a type of cherry blossom whose flowers are similar to that of the Kwanzan and seems to tolerate heat and humidity better than most flowering cherries. http://www.lecooke.com/cms/component/content/article/88-ask-the-grower/367-pink-cloud-flowering-cherries.html I truly hope this info helps. Cheers! Best.
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I was able to find a very informative site, which gives the origins of the different cherry blossom varieties (you might have to copy and paste the link) http://botanyboy.org/yoshino-cherry-tree-prunus-x-yedoensis-the-famous-japanese-cherry-blossom/ There are nine main different varieties of cherry that grow in the wild in Japan: Yamazakura (Prunus jamasakura) Oyamazakura (Prunus sargentii) Kasumisakura (Prunus verecunda) Oshimazakura (Prunus speciosa) Edohigan (Prunus Ascendens spachiana) Mamesakura (Prunus incise) Choujizakura (Prunus apetala) Minezakura (Prunus nipponica) Miyamazakura (Prunus maximowiczii) The Yoshino cherry was the result of a single hybridization between Edohigan and Oshimazakura. Cherries with the name 'Serrulata' are those found in the Satozakura group, which are the cultivated cherries. These derive mainly from a number of the wild Japanese varieties listed above. In addition, there is the Kanhizakura (Prunus campanulata), which was brought to Japan much later, and can tolerate warmer climates.
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About the only reasonable explanation that I can think of at the moment is that a "sucker", that is, a sprout from the base of the plant actually coming from the rootstock-these are grafted plants-grew up into the main body of the tree without your noticing, has matured enough to produce blossoms, and is now doing so, this variety of cherry not being the same as the top portion. Capiche? Really no other way that I can think of for this to happen. And it's not April first yet. Me or somebody else here can elaborate on that explanation if you wish. +oM
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It's probably the heat. Cherries don't do well in the heat. It should start to get better by the end of September if you keep the tree consistently watered. If you really wanted to go out of your way to tend to the tree, you could mist the leaves during the middle of the day (sometime between 12:00 to 4:00 ). I've even heard some people have very lightly sprayed their trees with mineral oil, or lightly rubbed some petroleum jelly onto the leaves, to help keep them from drying out. It's the height of summer right now, and a little browning is to be expected. San Jose has clearer skies than San Francisco, so less protection from the sun. In short, what you are seeing is perfectly normal for the climate you are in. There's a reason most commercial cherry orchards are based in Michigan and Eastern Washington. Also, in San Jose (all the paved surfaces in the surrounding area has an effect on temperature) it's quite likely your kwanzan trees are not getting quite the degree of winter chill that they would prefer. This results in slightly reduced vigor, and that is also associated with browning of the leaf tips. Your tree should fair better in future years when the roots have become more established (and they can provide a more adequate water supply to the leaves).
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azdesertrat_2010
13 years ago
The Tree sufferd a shock and cutting the branches was a good thing to do but you may not see any blossoms for awhile .Make sure you water frequently and protect the tree if you have a deep frost. Dont worry though eventually it will come back to normal.
Embothrium
13 years ago
If there has been a transition to different leaves with a different habit, with no flowers being seen you may have had sweet cherry rootstock sprouts grow up to overwhelm and replace a cultivar that was grafted on top. I often see this happening with Japanese flowering cherry trees here, even though the appearance of the scion and rootstock may be markedly different from one another at flowering time.

If that is the case with your tree the portion that died may have been the last bits of the scion finally being killed off by the competition from the rootstock sprouts.
mark81j
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for all the information all,appreciate it. allot of diferent opinions.
Bboy if what you say is the case, is there no future hope for this tree?

I will upload pics of the tree within the last 3 years.
Spring 2008
Spring 2009
May 2010

Here is a link that might be useful: Spring 2008
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
the link did not work for me

ken
mark81j
Original Author
13 years ago
thanks for the heads up Ken, hope this works

http://img156.imageshack.us/i/spring2008.jpg/ Spring 2008

http://img714.imageshack.us/i/spring2009.jpg/ Spring 2009

http://img121.imageshack.us/i/may2010.jpg/ May 2010
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
13 years ago
Link didn't work for me either.

I can definitely see how bboy's scenario could be true. As far as "hope for the tree", the tree is still alive. It is the rootstock that is alive, though, not the grafted part. If you wish for hope for the grafted part in this scenario, there is none. But pix would help for something other than a guess.

Dan
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
13 years ago
Based on the photos, I'd say bboy was correct. What you see in the current photo is all growth from the rootstock (below the graft). All the former, ornamental cherry growth is dead or has been removed. It will never flower similar to the first photo, although it should produce some sort of flowers. If you want a tree that resembles the appearance of the first photo (2008), you will need to remove and replace.
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
13 years ago
Yup. That's what happened. Grafted portion died & rootstock all that remains.

Dan
mark81j
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank You Dan and Gardengirl for your posts, so the Scion part of the tree died and all that remains is rootstock.
what a shame.
I suppose I should remove it.
mark81j
Original Author
13 years ago
instead of removal, i'm thinking i may re graft this tree - as the root stock is still very healthy.
would any type of flowering ornamental cherry attachment be suitable?

Flowering Cherry Blossom Tree problem

Comments (12)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Embothrium

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Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)

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