Bloomipedia
Japanese flowering cherry (Prunus serrulata)
Photo: W Rao via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flowering tree

Japanese flowering cherry

Prunus serrulata

Japanese flowering cherry (Prunus serrulata) is a tree in the Rosaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states.

🌷 Flowering treeIntroduced in the lower 48

Japanese flowering cherry is a popular flowering tree. It's on our flower lists for 47 states.

2states where USDA records it
47Bloomipedia state lists include it
80U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 23, 2026. Our state lists also include states where people grow it in gardens, so they can outnumber USDA's wild-plant records. Planted garden trees are mostly excluded from research grade.

On our lists for: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Quick look

Prunus serrulata or Japanese cherry is a species of cherry tree that grows wild in Japan, China, Korea and Vietnam. The term also refers to a cultivar produced from Prunus speciosa, a cherry tree endemic in Japan.

  • It belongs to the Rosaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 2 states. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 27 research-grade sightings of it in Georgia, ranking #131 among the 183 flowers on our Georgia list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 11 research-grade sightings of it in North Carolina, ranking #147 among the 192 flowers on our North Carolina list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 5 research-grade sightings of it in Maryland, ranking #140 among the 189 flowers on our Maryland list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (10 records)
Bloom time in the 47 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
Georgia🌷 Gardenfew records (3)27
North Carolina🌷 Gardenno flowering records11
Maryland🌷 Gardenno flowering records5
Pennsylvania🌷 Gardenfew records (1)5
Virginia🌷 Gardenno flowering records5
New Jersey🌷 Gardenfew records (2)4
South Carolina🌷 Gardenno flowering records4
Tennessee🌷 Gardenfew records (1)3
West Virginia🌷 Gardenfew records (1)3
Arkansas🌷 Gardenno flowering records2
California🌷 Gardenno flowering records2
New York🌷 Gardenfew records (1)2
Alabama🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Illinois🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Louisiana🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Michigan🌷 Gardenfew records (1)1
Mississippi🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Ohio🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Oregon🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
New Hampshire🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Alaska🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Arizona🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Colorado🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Connecticut🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Delaware🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Florida🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Hawaii🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Iowa🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Idaho🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Indiana🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Kansas🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Kentucky🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Massachusetts🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Maine🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Minnesota🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Missouri🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Montana🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Nebraska🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
New Mexico🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Nevada🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Oklahoma🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Rhode Island🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Texas🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Utah🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Vermont🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Washington🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Wisconsin🌷 Gardenno flowering records0

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe
Unknown We couldn't find this name in NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 32 of our 47 states.
See each state
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). 02 NCAC 48F .0301
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). COMAR 08.03.08
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). 2VAC5-320-10
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
California
Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). 6 NYCRR § 193.3
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. IL E&T checklist 2025
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). R 299.1028
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). OAC 1501:18-1-03
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). OAR 603-073-0070
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NH Ncr 312
Arizona
Not listed Not on Arizona Native Plant Law protected plants (Ariz. Admin. Code R3-3 Art. 11, App. A, eff. Feb. 2, 2025). AAC R3-3 App. A
Connecticut
Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). CT E/T/SC list
Delaware
Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). DE rare plants 2024
Florida
Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). FAC 5B-40.0055
Hawaii
Not listed Not on Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. HAR 13-107
Iowa
Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). IAC 571-77.3
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). 400 KAR 3:040
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). MESA list
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. Maine rare plant list
Minnesota
Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). Minn. R. 6134.0300
Missouri
Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. 3 CSR 10-4.111
Nebraska
Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). 163 NAC 4-004
New Mexico
Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). 19.21.2.9 NMAC
Nevada
Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NAC 527.010
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). RI rare plants 2016
Texas
Not listed Not on Texas endangered and threatened plants (31 Tex. Admin. Code § 69.8), as listed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. 31 TAC 69.8
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). Vermont E&T list
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NR 27.03
South Carolina
No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead.
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead.
Arkansas
No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead.
Alabama
No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead.
Louisiana
No list Louisiana has no state list of endangered or threatened plants separate from the federal list, so we show federal status and NatureServe's Louisiana ranks.
Mississippi
No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead.
Alaska
No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead.
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead.
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead.
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead.
Kansas
No list Kansas's endangered and threatened list (K.A.R. 115-15-1) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's Kansas ranks for plants.
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead.
Oklahoma
No list Oklahoma has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Oklahoma ranks instead.
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead.
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead.

Checked October 23, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Cherry” (Prunus spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting: brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting… ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records Japanese flowering cherry in 2 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Massachusetts.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 2 counties across 2 states; the most are in California (1), Massachusetts (1).

Other Prunus on Bloomipedia (16): Black cherry, Chokecherry, Carolina laurelcherry, American plum, Beach plum, Peach, Cherry laurel, Fire cherry, Desert peach, Sweet cherry.

More from the Rosaceae family (103 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Toyon, Thimbleberry, Wineberry, Black raspberry, Trailing blackberry.

More Georgia flowers

Sources