Depends on the size of the tree now. You can start out smaller and pot your way up but I would be looking at something the size of a half whiskey barrel for a more permanent home. This will result in a more or less dwarfed specimen however, as most containers will. And will still require periodic repotting to refresh the media and root prune.

Heating cables are not necessary in zone 9 :-)

I think zone 9 too warm.

Well, they grow here perfectly well....aside from the usual ailments that affect any flowering Prunus :-) But zone 9 is probably the upper limit. For example, they are not recommended for SoCal, most of which is zone 10. So NoCal, OK - SoCal, not advised. And any east coast zone 9 location would not be advised ether.....too much summer humidity, which will only serve to encourage all the many fungal and bacterial issues that can affect flowering cherries.

there is a container forum ... you might find some guidance there .. especially as to the media that goes into a pot ... its actually more important than the pot or the plant ....

pot size on larger trees ... most likely has something to do with how often you are willing to bare root the tree and root prune it ... which is basically the definition of bonsai .... and the bigger the tree gets ... the harder that process becomes ....

this tree has vast potential to be grown .. long term.. in a pot ... my 20 footer .. i cant imagine the pot it would need .. lol ... especially when many peeps say a root mass.. can be twice the tree you see above ground ... see this link for conceptualizing such ....

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=kwanzan+cherry+tree&t=ffcm&iax=images&ia=images

btw .... you dont start with a huge pot ... you pot up.. as the tree grows ...

ken

Glenda Smith, here is an accurate answer for you. No.

When Kwanan cherries like the ones above are purchased they are likely in containers. Maybe they can be kept that way for another year but eventually they will be planted out. Are you looking for something for the apartment balcony? In your zone you have infinite alternatives, why did you zero in on this cherry? Why not repeat this question on the Florida/Texas forum?

Do flowering cherries grow in your area or are they subject to problems? I can only speak for my area where Asian cherries are remarkably disease and pest free.

"Accurate" is only in the eyes of one making that statement!! And how familiar or comfortable they might be with growing trees in contaners. Any tree can be grown in a container for an indefinite length of time, provided it is given the proper conditions and care. But it will result in a tree that is dwarfed or reduced in size....that is just the nature of container gardening. Think bonsai but on a larger scale.

And why assume that the Texas or Florida forums are necessarily a better location for this question? Zone 9 occurs in areas not anywhere close to those locations as well. I will concede that asking on the OP's regional forum - wherever that might be - might make sense for local input however.

I'm in 9a, Florida and have not seen a single Kwanzan.

Possible climate limitations aside the main issue will be that this is a tree of some size genetically. So it will soon become too big to be manageable in anything less than a large - as in bed-sized - permanent planter. One like might be seen at a civic center, corporate office building or mall for instance.

Bonsai-like dwarfing techniques involving annual pruning of the top and roots could be attempted. But a body would probably already have to be well versed in such a method in order to achieve an attractive result. And if a specimen already of typical garden center shape and size is what is being talked about it is probably too late for something like that.

if you insist .... it sounds like your option is at the link .... and probably grown indoors.... under lights .....

and as noted above.. you might need to join a local bonsai club.. and become somewhat of an expert .... or buy an established one .. and only need to learn how to maintain it .... and i dont expect it would be cheap ....

one thing that comes to mind.. perhaps someone knows offhand .... is there a required dormancy for flowering????

ken

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Kwanan+cherry+bonsai&t=ffcm&iax=images&ia=images

Oh for heaven's sake!! Don't make more out of this than needs to be!! A Kwanzan\Kanzan or any other larger growing tree will not grow to full size in a container. That's what containers do - they naturally dwarf or stunt the growth of the tree due to root restriction. So you can grow them long term in a decently sized container but just do not expect them to reach optimal size.

This is NOT bonsai and you are not trying to keep it to a tiny, miniaturized size like you would with bonsai but many of the care procedures are similar including pinching or pruning back topgrowth occasionally and periodic root pruning. Which you would need to do with any tree grown in a container. I know because I grow a great many trees in containers, several for as long as 25 years. But whatever you do, ignore comments about growing it indoors and under lights!! That is something you do not want to do!!

You may get other, more appropriate advice on this topic if you were to post in the Container Gardening forum, where folks who do this routinely - grow large trees in containers - can contribute some meaningful information.

Here are links to three threads from that forum's archives written by our resident expert that may further your knowledge and success.

Trees in Containers

Trees in Containers II

Trees in Containers III