Weeping Higan Cherry Represents “Hanami” – 2025 March Tree

NLI’s Legacy Tree Program announces the Weeping Higan Cherry (Prunus pendula, formerly Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula’) as the 2025 March Tree of the Month. This tree, nominated by Tim Gruner, Garden Curator and Head of Horticulture at Anderson Japanese Gardens (Rockford), measures a height of 28 feet, with a trunk circumference of 46.2 inches, and an average crown spread of 30 feet.

Weeping Higan Cherry is native to Japan but is planted around the world in similar climates because of its beautiful spring bloom and graceful, pendulous branches. It’s iconic in Japanese themed gardens and this tree is the largest known in the region and grows just off the northwest corner of the Spring Creek Partners office overlooking Rockford’s renowned Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, IL 61107. As one of several species and many cultivars of “flowering cherries” – their ephemeral bloom in Japan is the equivalent of holiday and one makes time to experience their bloom in a practice known as “hanami”. From bud through bloom to raining petals as the flowering is done, they are a symbol of our short lives well lived.

“We bring you this as our legacy tree to challenge everyone to make time and experience the many beautiful trees around the region that will be coming into bloom over the next couple of months,” said Alan Branhagen, Executive Director for Natural Land Institute. “Though Weeping Higan Cherry is not native, it is not invasive and does provide for pollinators, and even at least some of our native insects including the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly utilize it as a host plant” he said. Locally native related trees include the Black, Choke and Pin Cherries and American Plum.

Weeping Higan Cherry is usually sold at nurseries as a graft on top of a sweet cherry trunk and some trees around town have reverted back to the sweet cherry as sprouts from the trunk overtake the graft of weeping branches. Flowers are single and light pink but there are cultivars with double flowers that look like pendant pink tutus. The March legacy tree is a full tree with no graft and is a single flowering plant. Few fruits (they are tiny cherries) are produced, probably because most cherries need to be cross-pollinated – remember cloned plants are all the same plant.

Fall color on Weeping Higan Cherry can be lovely shades from apricot to oranges and red in late fall – bringing another season of color to the garden.

Visit Anderson Japanese Gardens this spring and see this and the many other spring-flowering trees that provide us (and pollinators!) with a riot of color after a long winter. For hours, admissions pricing and other important information please visit: https://andersongardens.org/.

Branhagen encourages everyone to “walk your neighborhood and visit local wildlands when flowering trees are in bloom as well, and start your own version of hanami as a celebration of spring and a life well lived.”

Background and For More Information:

Natural Land Institute launched the Legacy Tree Program in January 2024. It includes recognition of one tree a month that may be the largest of its kind, or have historical or cultural significance. Anyone may nominate a tree on private or public land from NLI’s 12 county region. Other components of the program, a list of the 12 counties, the online nomination form, and the tree of the month since January 2024 can be found at: https://www.naturalland.org/nlis-legacy-tree-program-january/, call 815/964-6666 or email info@naturalland.org.

About the Natural Land Institute:

The Natural Land Institute, an accredited land trust, is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit land conservation organization based in Rockford, Illinois and has protected nearly 19,000 acres of natural land in I llinois since 1958. NLI’s mission is to create an enduring legacy of natural land in northern Illinois for people, plants and animals. For more information and to donate visit: www.NaturalLand.org or call 815/964-6666.