Weeping Japanese Flowering Cherry - Prunus serrulata 'Mt Fuji'

Prunus serrulata 'Mt Fuji', also known as Weeping Japanese Flowering Cherry, is a highly ornamental deciduous tree that stands apart from other flowering cherries through its exceptional architectural form. The branches spread horizontally in a broad, vase-shaped canopy that creates a dramatic silhouette in the Winter garden, before being completely transformed in mid-Spring when pink buds burst open to reveal large, pure white double flowers that cascade along every branch.

'Mt Fuji' is one of the earliest flowering cherries to bloom in Melbourne, often opening a week or more before other varieties and extending the Spring blossom season beautifully. As the flowers fade, fresh pale green finely serrated foliage emerges, maturing to a rich mid-green through Summer. Come Autumn, the leaves transition through yellow to warm red tones before dropping to reveal the tree's extraordinary horizontal branch structure once more.

Vigorous and adaptable, 'Mt Fuji' is tough enough to use as a street tree yet refined enough for the most formal garden. It performs beautifully across Melbourne's temperate climate, handling moderate frosts and dry summers with ease once established. 

Key Features:

• Soil: Well-drained soils preferred. Avoid waterlogged or poorly drained positions. In Melbourne's clay-heavy areas, improve drainage with gypsum or plant in a raised bed with improved soil mix.
• Light: Full sun to semi-shade. Best flowering and Autumn colour in full sun. Morning sun with afternoon shade suits warmer Melbourne suburbs and helps extend the blossom display in Spring.
• Watering: Water regularly during establishment and through Melbourne's dry summers. Once established, water deeply every one to two weeks during extended dry spells. Reduce watering in Winter when the tree is dormant.
• Fertiliser: Apply a slow-release fertiliser for flowering trees in late Winter, just before buds begin to swell. A light liquid feed after flowering supports healthy new foliage development through Spring and Summer.
• Maintenance: Low. Prune lightly immediately after flowering to maintain shape and remove any crossing or inward-growing branches. This is the safest time to prune cherries, minimising the risk of silver leaf disease. Remove any suckers from below the graft union promptly if present. Mulch well year-round.
• Flowering: One of the earliest flowering cherries in Melbourne, typically blooming in late August to September. Pink buds open to large, pure white double flowers that cover the horizontal branches for two to three weeks. The white blooms against the bare branch structure create a particularly elegant display. Flowers are excellent for cutting.

'Mt Fuji' is one of the best flowering cherries for Melbourne gardens because it flowers early, before most other varieties, effectively extending your Spring blossom season. For the most dramatic effect, plant where the horizontal branch structure is silhouetted against a clear sky or light-coloured wall, the architectural form is as beautiful in Winter without leaves as it is smothered in white blossom in Spring. Always prune immediately after flowering, never at other times of year.

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