Weeping Higan Cherry

Prunus X subhirtella ‘pendula’

The Weeping Higan Cherry is a staple in many Suburban landscapes.  It is often over planted with one included on the corner of every newly built house. But, as I discovered today, unusually uncommon to find large specimens here in Newport.  The hunt was on to find a large Tree of the Week specimen spilling out over an estate wall or forming a pink umbrella with a cool place for a fort underneath.  Should be easy right? After an hour of hunting I found two specimens worth mentioning. 

The above photos are of two different trees, both weeping forms with the species of Prunus x subhirtella.  But if you’re able to see the differences, one has a single set of pale pink petals and the other, a double set of a much darker pink.  The first tree with bright pink double flowers, growing across from Spencer Park is ‘Pendula Plena Rosea’.  The second tree is one of a pair of old specimens gracing a front lawn on Harrison Avenue.  This variety could be 'Shidare Higan' or 'Io Sakura' with its small single pale flowers.