I'm not too worried about the cold winter since I'm in zone 7 and even if its zone 7a, winter nighttime temperatures has not even dropped below 15 degrees yet so far! Thats like zone 8-9 ish lol. Just worried about pests, and fungus diseases. I still hear that subhirtella is one of the most disease resistant out of all ornamental cherries though

Not considered ornamental but Prunus serotina is one of the longest lived cherries as far as I know.

Not pointless, just depends on your risk tolerance. There are a lot of problems they can succumb to like cold, bugs, deer, etc. People are getting away from weeping subhirtella cherries in this area because they are not really 5b/6a hardy. I have also read, but don't buy that they are significantly more robust than other cherries. My brother just had his root stock blow through the graft on a specimen. The roots are a problem near hardscape. Nonetheless, if you really like them, go for it.

They just work on a different time schedule than most trees. There are a lot of plants that people happily have around for a mere 20 years. These are one of them.

Ornamental Prunus species just tend to develop a LOT of problems in a maritime climate like one finds here in the PNW, grafted forms (like most weepers) even more readily it seems than non-grafted forms. They may well have less issues in a drier climate but these trees are generally well recognized for a plethora of disease (and insect) issues and a relatively short lifespan, as trees go.

Here, it is difficult to find a mature weeping cherry without problems and most look terrible after just a few years. But there are some flowering cherries that fair better for a longer period of time than others. At the top of my list would be Prunus x yedoensis or the Yoshino cherry. These are the variety that grace the Tidal Basin plantings at Washington DC and are the stars of the annual spring cherry blossom festival. The same trees are planted here in Seattle at the University of Washington quad. But even these are not long lasting - the DC cherries have been replaced several times over their 100 year history and the U of W trees are also in decline and have had numerous replacements.

The other I would consider is Prunus 'Shirotae', aka Mt. Fuji cherry. One can often find rather venerable specimens (60 y.o. +/-) of this rather stunning flowering tree that develops a flat, almost tabletop, crown with maturity.

But in "tree years", none of these are significantly long lived plants. If you keep that in mind and watch for and address any issues before they get away from you, you can enjoy these trees for a good couple of decades. As MOBOT states with respect to flowering cherries: "Susceptible to a large number of insect and disease pests. Potential diseases include leaf spot, die back, leaf curl, powdery mildew, root rot and fireblight. Potential insects include aphids, scale, borers, leafhoppers, caterpillars, tent caterpillars and Japanese beetles. Spider mites may also be troublesome."

If you like it plant it! There is a Yoshino Cherry at the house next door and it seems to be in great shape.....

But after seeing gardengals comment, I am starting to get worried

==>>> ahhh pshaw .... lifes too short ... to worry about the garden ....

plant what excites you... and enjoy it for as long as its with you ...

many things... especially within trees... will outlive you ....

if some problem comes along... maybe they will only live 10 or 15 years ...

so what.. if you only get the lower numbers ....eh ...

gardening is not a plant and its with you forever proposition ... some things live .. some thrive.. some struggle.. some die ... and your a real gardener ... when you start shovel pruning all your mistakes ...

talk with local upscale nurseries.. to find out.. what is problematic in your area ... if you mail order everything... you have no real local learning curve ... one clue is.. if its not sold locally ..... theres a chance.. its not favorable for your area ...

ken

ps: i think i once read.. that the famous cherries in washington dc are cycled in rather short order.. in tree time .... they arent planted in terms of forever .... i might stand corrected on that ...

In general wild cherry species are pioneer trees that live fast and die young, as longer term trees supplant them. This same intrinsic character will be a big part of what makes Japanese flowering cherries favorites - they develop rapidly and bloom heavily at a young age. With this nature comes the possibility of spoilage by bugs or blight at some point. How serious a factor this susceptibility is varies regionally and with the specific kind of cherry. Here, for instance, where Cherry Bark Tortrix has spread into the area from nearby Canada as it happens 'Shirotae' for instance has been mentioned in the past as being particularly susceptible.

So far I personally have only seen a previously functioning Prunus x blireiana drilled out and killed by this insect in a Seattle garden.

The United States National Arboretum has named and introduced a few Japanese cherry cultivars that they represent as less problematic than older kinds. I can't get their site to open right now but it has a section where their plant introductions are featured.

You can see my Prunus sargentii HERE. No issues in the 16 years I've had it and is among Dirr's best cherries for fall color.

tj

SE Wisconsin is not exactly a maritime climate, unlike the OP's New Jersey, which may or may not be but will at least feel some of the effects of weather not common to more continental locations. And the disease and insect issues that can wreak havoc on ornamental cherries tend to be very location oriented. I'd also not consider 16 years to be much of a marker for success or failure..............

Well for 16 years of age it looks quite good and youthful. I dont see any signs of disease. Im thinking about getting that "rancho" now! lol

Agreed, gardengal, 16 years is not a long time, but with Dirr recommending it and touting its longevity in New England (if not New Jersey) it does make it worth consideration.

tj

An argument can be made that any ornamental prunus is worth consideration but even Dirr acknowledges that "Prunus as a group is beset with insect and disease problems and perhaps should not be looked upon as long term garden investments" and he goes on to say that some species can be expected to live for "30-50 years" - not a very long time in tree terms - while others "may decline in 3 to 10 years." He continues by stating that Prunus sargentii "is one of the most beautiful cherries in flower but does not appear to relish zone 7 and 8 heat" and is "not reliable in Minnesota".

Gardengal, I actually have been looking into yoshino cherries for a while now but I bought the higan this spring instead because I looked up yoshino and it stated that yoshino only live 15-20 years and very disease susceptible. Most of yoshino is also white too.. I want a pink cherry. Thats a must. And missouribotanic states that the higan generally has good disease resistance. If the grafted weeping higans are no good then do upright higan cherries make a difference?

Btw that is a nice sargentii cherry. Looks beautiful but I'm afraid it won't survive in my hot humid summer zone

Any ornamental cherries have been lucky if they survived 20 years here. If fire blight doesn't get them verticulum wilt will.

This cherry in shofuso garden in Philadelphia, PA is around 60 years old. I went there last July and talked to the people who worked there. I didn't take this pic though, found it online. Anyway 60 years! Isn't that a big too long for a cherry? And is this a higan weeping cherry? I don't get it... how is it living that long

It is probably sprayed. Also, those are different conditions than mine. I am not sure if v wilt is a big problem where you are, but if not spraying should be sufficient.

Heruga, the only way you will know how well this tree may work for you is to try it. Look to see if there are mature examples in your general vicinity - that's often the best indication of well a tree will thrive in any given area. MOBOT is fine for basic information but it is not a horticultural authority and its info is directed at midwest gardeners. How well a plant will do in an area as displaced from St. Louis as New Jersey is will be pretty much up for grabs.

There are many many weeping cherries in my area... like literally almost at every house. Some are snow fountain some are plena rosea. My previous job's coworker told me she planted a weeping cherry about 20 years ago and is around 12 feet tall today. From my observation, most of the cherries are 15 feet or under. There is this one house nearby however, that has a weeping cherry that is like 40-50 feet tall.

Also about this miharu takizakura tree in Japan, its over 1000 years old... how the freak does a tree that's not even supposed to live more than 20 years live 1000 years!?? I mean I know it's in it's native range and may be less disease susceptible but over 1000 years is just too much. it's like a human living 300 years old. Unbelievable...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miharu_Takizakura

There are many, many weeping cherries in my area as well........also many other ornamental cherries. Some look great and have been there for years. Others just a few years old are showing serious disease issues, brown rot and bacterial blight being the two most common ailments, resulting in branch dieback, gaping cankers oozing sap and shriveled brown foliage scattered here and there.