Winter-Flowering Cherry
Prunus × subhirtella
- Native to:
- Japan
Captain-tucker
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- Prunus × subhirtella
- USDA Symbol:
- PRSU4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 1200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, white
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Ashen Pinion (Lithophane antennata), bicolored sallow (Sunira bicolorago), Cerma cerintha, clear dagger moth (Acronicta clarescens), Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidoides), Nameless Pinion (Lithophane innominata), speckled cutworm (Lacanobia subjuncta), Straight-toothed Sallow (Eupsilia vinulenta), Three-spotted sallow (Eupsilia tristigmata)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, bees, butterflies
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers fertile soil with organic matter
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 90–120 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold stratification and may have low viability. Most cultivars are propagated vegetatively.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI