Autumn 2024Order now for delivery from week commencing 25th November for pot grown trees or December for bare-root or mixed tree orders.
Pippin Trees banner logoOver 400 varieties of flowering cherries, crab apples, rowans and other ornamental trees.

Shogetsu - Blushing Bride

Prunus
Shogetsu - Blushing Bride has received the RHS Award of Garden Merit

Prunus Shogetsu, also known as Blushing Bride or Oku-miyako, is a popular Japanese flowering cherry.

The main attraction is the cascading clusters of blossom hanging on long stalks. The large double flowers are tinged with pink, but open to a pure white.

Shogetsu flowers quite late, starting in May in most areas. The leaves appear at the same time as the flowers, and are initially a light bronze-green colour.

In autumn the leaves take on orange tints, although this is somewhat weather dependent - it is more likely when autumn is sunny but with cold nights.

The tree develops an impressive presence as it grows, taking on an increasingly spreading habit - a mature tree is likely to be considerably wider than it is high, eventually taking on a parasol-like appearance. It is one of the best flowering cherries for winter form.

Shogetsu - Blushing Bride japanese flowering cherry trees for sale

  • 11-year bare-root tree £46.50
    Large size (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • 22-year pot-grown tree £71.95
    In a 12L pot
    Large size (3m-5m after 10 years)
Next deliveries

Order now for delivery from week commencing 25th November for pot grown trees or December for bare-root or mixed tree orders.

How to grow

Shogetsu does best in a sheltered location in well-drained soil. Avoid windy sites if possible.

History

As with many flowering cherries of Japanese origins, Shogetsu's history is littered with mis-identifications and multiple names (including Blushing Bride and Oku Miyako). Even the famous English enthusiast of the 1920s, Collingwood Ingram, came unstuck with this variety. However the confusion was eventually resolved and Shogetsu has become one of the most widely-admired of the white-blossom Japanese flowering cherries.

Shogetsu - Blushing Bride characteristics

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • AwardsRHS AGM (current) - 1993
  • Attractive featuresAttractive flowersAttractive tree / plantAutumn foliage colour
  • Growth habitSpreading / Flat-topped
  • Height after 10 years3m-5m / 10ft-16ft
  • PruningLight prune
  • Growth rateAverage
  • Flower colourWhite
  • Flower formDouble flower (25-50 petals)
  • Flowering monthMay
  • Leaf colourGreen
  • Leaf colour - autumnYellow / Crimson
  • Country of originJapan
  • Annual cycleDeciduous

Similar varieties

  • See also Pink Perfection
    Prunus
    Pink Perfection
    The definitive pink blossom tree, offers a long-lasting display of pink double flowers.

What will it look like?

Illustrative examples of 12L pot-grown trees of this variety as supplied. Approximate girth: 6/8cm. We try to keep all pot-grown trees down to about 1.5m as supplied, but some may be larger. Trees should reach their mature height after about 10 or more years. We may also have 1-year bare-root trees of this variety - they are not shown here.

Prunus Shogetsu
Prunus Shogetsu
Prunus Shogetsu (top-worked)
Prunus Shogetsu (top-worked)


How to choose a flowering cherry tree

We list more than 70 different flowering cherry trees. Choosing can be difficult! Our article explaining the different characteristics of flowering cherries might help narrow down the selection.

This variety description was researched and written by Orange Pippin staff. Last checked: 2022.