Cherry Prunus 'Sunset Boulevard'

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Edible

‍🌱 Hard-care

ABOUT

Prunus 'Sunset Boulevard' is a striking variety of Cherry known for its ornamental appeal. This plant typically features a display of beautiful flowers that generously blanket the branches, often in a delightful pink shade. The blooms are comprised of numerous small petals that cluster together to form each flowering blossom, creating a dense and eye-catching floral display. When not in bloom, the plant boasts a canopy of green leaves that provide a lush, foliage backdrop. These leaves typically have a smooth edge with a shape that tapers towards the tip, and they may turn to warm, autumnal colors as the seasons change. The bark of Prunus 'Sunset Boulevard' is another noteworthy characteristic, providing a textural contrast to the softer textures of the leaves and flowers. It may exhibit a rugged surface that peels or flakes in patterns, revealing different tones underneath. In the spring and summer, this plant may also bear fruit that attracts a variety of wildlife. The size, color, and quality of the fruit can vary, but they are generally small and may be appealing to birds and other animals. Throughout the seasons, Prunus 'Sunset Boulevard' offers a dynamic and ever-changing aesthetic, making it a cherished choice for gardeners and landscape enthusiasts seeking to enhance outdoor spaces with natural beauty and seasonal interest.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Synonyms
  Sunset Boulevard Cherry, Purple-Leaf Plum, Ornamental Cherry
- Common names
  Prunus 'Sunset Boulevard'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  Prunus 'Sunset Boulevard' is commonly known as Cherry. Most parts of cherry plants, except the ripe fruit, contain cyanogenic glycosides, which are toxic to humans. The seeds, leaves, and stems have particularly high levels of these compounds. Ingesting these parts in large quantities can lead to cyanide poisoning. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, breathing difficulties, confusion, seizures, and possibly coma. In severe cases, it may be fatal. Always exercise caution and avoid consuming the non-fruit parts of the plant.
- To pets
  Cherry, is potentially toxic to pets, including dogs and cats. As with humans, the seeds, leaves, and stems of the cherry plant contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can release cyanide when ingested. Symptoms of poisoning in pets may include dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock, and red gums. Severe cases can lead to death if not treated promptly. It is important to prevent pets from accessing these parts of the plant to ensure their safety.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Pink
- Height
  15-20 feet (4.6-6 meters)
- Spread
  15-20 feet (4.6-6 meters)
- Plant type
  Tree
- Hardiness zones
  5-8
- Native area
  Asia

Benefits

General Benefits
- Ornamental Appeal: It has attractive blossoms and foliage that add aesthetic value to landscapes.
- Shade Provision: Can offer a shaded area in gardens, which can be beneficial during hot sunny days.
- Habitat for Wildlife: The tree can attract and support local wildlife such as birds and beneficial insects.
- Seasonal Interest: Offers varied visual interest throughout different seasons with its changing leaf color and blossoming flowers.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, it may have a degree of drought tolerance, requiring less frequent watering.
- Compact Growth: Suitable for smaller gardens due to its relatively compact size compared to other tree species.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Photography Prop: Prunus 'Sunset Boulevard', with its stunning pink blossoms, can be used as an attractive backdrop for springtime photography sessions, adding a romantic and colorful touch to portraits.
- Educational Tool: This specific variety of cherry tree can be used to teach budding horticulturists and botany students about grafting methods, tree growth patterns, and the importance of cultivar selection in landscape design.
- Culinary Experiments: While not commonly known for its fruit, any small cherries produced can be used to experiment with new recipes or flavorings, adding a unique twist to homemade preserves or syrups.
- Craft Materials: Fallen branches and twigs can be gathered and used to create rustic craft items such as wreaths, centerpieces, or even as natural supports for climbing plants in the garden.
- Natural Dyes: The blossoms may be used to produce natural dyes for fabrics or art projects, with the potential to yield delicate shades of pink or purple.
- Landscape Contrast: When planted in a garden that predominantly features green foliage plants, the Prunus 'Sunset Boulevard' can provide a stark color contrast that helps to break up monotonous green space with its vibrant flowers.
- Habitat Provision: Though not the primary intention, the tree can serve as a habitat or nesting site for local bird species, adding to the biodiversity of a garden setting.
- Eco-Friendly Confetti: The petals, when collected, can be used as a biodegradable confetti alternative for celebrations, reducing plastic waste and adding a natural element to the event.
- Fragrance Source: If grown in abundance, the sweet fragrance of the flowers may be harnessed to create natural potpourris or infused oils that capture the essence of spring.
- Sound Barrier: A row of these trees, when fully grown, can act as a soft sound barrier, helping to reduce noise pollution from nearby roads when planted along the property edge.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Cherry tree is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Cherry tree is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Renewal: This plant belongs to the genus Prunus, which includes cherry trees. Cherry blossoms are often associated with spring and renewal because they are among the first to bloom.
- Beauty: The beautiful blossoms of the cherry tree represent beauty and the transient nature of life, as the blossoms have a short blooming period.
- Love: In some cultures, cherry blossoms are symbolic of love and affection, possibly because of their delicate and fleeting nature.
- Impermanence: The brief lifespan of the plant's flowers serves as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of life and youth.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
The Cherry Plum should be watered deeply and thoroughly, allowing the soil to become moderately dry between waterings. During the active growth season in spring and summer, this may mean watering every 7 to 10 days, depending on weather conditions. Newly planted trees need more frequent watering, such as once or twice a week, to establish their root systems. Mature trees can be watered less frequently, potentially every 2 to 3 weeks. Use about 1 to 2 gallons of water for each watering session to ensure the soil is moistened to a depth of 12 to 18 inches.
Light
The Cherry Plum thrives in full sunlight and should be placed in a spot that receives at least six hours of direct, unfiltered light daily. The ideal location is one where the tree is exposed to abundant sunshine from morning to afternoon, without being shaded by larger trees or structures.
Temperature
The Cherry Plum prefers temperate conditions and is hardy to USDA zones 5 through 8. It can withstand winter temperatures as low as -20°F and summer temperatures up to 85°F, but the ideal temperature range for this tree is between 60°F and 75°F.
Pruning
Prune the Cherry Plum to remove dead or diseased branches, to shape the tree, and to open up the canopy for better light penetration and air circulation. The best time to prune is during the tree's dormant period in late winter or early spring before the new growth starts. Pruning should be done annually or as necessary to maintain the tree's structure and health.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The ideal soil mix for the ornamental cherry tree, commonly known as Prunus 'Sunset Boulevard', should be well-draining, fertile, and loamy with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.5 to ensure optimal growth. Incorporate organic matter like compost to improve soil structure and fertility.
Repotting
Ornamental cherry trees, such as the Prunus 'Sunset Boulevard', are not commonly repotted as they are usually planted directly into the ground. However, if grown in a container, repotting may be necessary every 3-5 years or when the tree becomes root-bound.
Humidity & Misting
Prunus 'Sunset Boulevard', the ornamental cherry tree, prefers moderate humidity but is adaptable to a wide range of humidity levels as long as its soil moisture needs are met properly.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Ensure bright light, correct pot size, and seasonal outdoor time.
- Outdoor
  Plant in well-draining soil, full sun to partial shade.
- Hardiness zone
  5-8 USDA
Life cycle
'Sunset Boulevard' cherry begins its life cycle with seed germination, which occurs when conditions are moist and warm, typically in spring. Once germinated, it enters the seedling stage, rapidly growing both roots and shoots in its first few years. As it progresses to the juvenile stage, the plant develops a sturdy trunk and branches, preparing for mature growth. The adult tree reaches the flowering stage in spring, producing vibrant blossoms that, after pollination, develop into fruits by summer. The mature tree continues in a cycle of flowering and fruiting annually, which may also be accompanied by vegetative growth. As the tree ages, it enters a period of senescence, where growth slows and the tree eventually dies, completing its life cycle.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Propogation: The Prunus 'Sunset Boulevard', commonly known as the Sunset Boulevard Cherry, is typically propagated by grafting, which is the most popular method for this ornamental tree. Grafting involves taking a scion, or a young shoot, from a mature 'Sunset Boulevard' Cherry and attaching it to the rootstock of another Prunus variety that has desirable characteristics like disease resistance or hardiness. This is generally done in late winter or early spring before the buds begin to swell. The process requires precise cuts on both the scion and the rootstock to ensure the cambium layers, which are the growing tissues, align properly to facilitate successful grafting. The graft union is then secured with grafting tape or a similar material and coated with a grafting compound to prevent desiccation and infection. Over time, the tissues grow together, forming a strong union, allowing the scion to grow and mature as part of the rootstock tree.