Kwanzan Cherry Trees & Prairifire Crabs

Kwanzan Cherry Tree Blossoms

Maude asked if she could surround her new Park City home with cherry blossoms. The hardiest is the North Star Dwarf but it blooms white so what's the point?

When I think of cherries, I think of pink.

Well, actually, I think of Washington, D.C. I'm not much of an activist but if you need me to march on Washington you should schedule the riot during springtime. When those amazing Okame Cherry Trees transform themselves into breathtaking balls of fragrant pink flowers.

Maude: growing that tree in Park City will give you fits but don't put your house up for sale just yet.

Because the Kwanzan Cherry Tree does grow here and it's just as lovely. It's also more adaptable, cold hardy, and requires less water.

Prairifire Crabapple Blossoms (above)
Another bright pink beauty that does a fine job of coping with life in the mountains.

Speaking of life in the mountains... soon you'll figure out how badly you'll want to escape Park City every once in awhile. Heading to DC for the Cherry Blossom Festival is as good an excuse as any!

* There are a number of ornamental trees that do well at high altitudes ~ as long as you're more interested in the flowers vs. the fruit. Our short growing season is not great for fruit production and that's okay. Local songbirds are more than happy to do the harvesting for you.

- The Kwanzan Cherry is a cousin of the DC darlings. Fast growing, USDA zones 5-9.
- The Prairifire Crabapple is also a cold hardy bloomer, USDA zones 4-8.