Why Plant Okame Flowering Cherry?
Okame Flowering Cherry trees are a vision of beauty in stunning rosy pink blooms covering bare branches in early spring and are quite the spectacle to see! Noting the arrival of spring as the magenta buds emerge, Okame is known for being one of the most elegant ornamental trees. The shining, olive green leaves unfurl in late spring, shimmering in a light breeze. Then as fall arrives, they transform into a warm orange shade. A dazzling ornamental tree to plant in the best viewing spot possible, as it will make your garden feel like you’ve embarked onto a lavish courtyard.
Thanks to a very generous gift from the People of Japan in 1912, approximately 3,750 Cherry trees are planted along the Tidal Basin in Washington DC. In a ceremony on March 27, 1912 the first lady Helen Taft and the wife of the Japanese ambassador Viscountess Chinda, planted the first two trees together on the northern bank in West Potomac Park. These two original trees are still standing today marked by a large plaque. Each spring our nation’s capital celebrates the National Cherry Blossom Festival. This has become a cherished tradition for many, drawing 1.5 million people to the city each year. In 2012, The United States sent 3000 flowering dogwood trees to Japan to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Japan’s Cherry trees. The trees are a living reminder of the good will and friendship between the two countries.
How to use Okame Flowering Cherry in the landscape?
Plant a row of Okame Flowering Cherry trees running down your driveway or two on either side of your garden to create a lush botanical garden feel.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 6-8
How To Plant Okame Flowering Cherry
If you love Cherry blossoms and want a tree for your own yard, Okame is a smart choice. It grows quickly, looks sharp year-round, and doesn’t have the short lifespan or disease issues that some Cherries do. Just give it full sun and moist but well-drained soil. In most regions of the country, this is the first Cherry tree to bloom, but don’t worry too much about frost—those baby-girl-pink blossoms are actually quite resilient!
How To Water
When it comes to watering your newly planted Okame Cherry, you are going to need to be consistent with your watering. Water every 2-3 days in the beginning and then lessen it to weekly baring any high temperatures or heat stress. Once established, your watering concerns will lessen.
How To Fertilize
When planted, your Okame should be fed with the Elements Starter Plant Food. After that, be sure to apply fertilizer in early spring to be sure your tree is receiving plenty of nutrients for the growing year!
How To Prune
Prune your Cherry in late spring after flowering or very early summer. Remove any broken or crossing branches or suckers at the base of the tree. We can't have them sucking all the energy from your tree!
How Does Shipping Work?
Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care. We deliver your trees and plants directly to you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.
*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.
Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.
Shipping Delays:
From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
