Home Garden & Home Plants Prunus Kojo-no-mai | Plant Profile

Prunus Kojo-no-mai | Plant Profile

Plants

Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-no-mai’ | Cherry ‘Kojo-no-mai’

Prunus ‘Kojo-no-mai’ is a fantastic deciduous shrub with elegant, layered branches and zig-zag twigs. In early spring, pink buds open to delicate single flowers with white petals that hang in attractive bunches all along the branches and become deeper pink in the centre. This is a fantastic plant for spring interest, and in the autumn, you will get extra enjoyment as the serrated leaves turn a rich orange.

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Prunus ‘kojo-no-mai’ brings amazing colour to the garden in autumn as well as spring

Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-no-mai’ Factfile

Flowering time	From early spring and orange leaf foliage in the autumn
Sun Requirements	Full sun
Soil	Any moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness	Fully hardy in all of the UK, often down to -20°C
Size	Grows to 2.5m height x 2.5m spread

Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-no-mai’ Growing Guide

Planting

If planting directly in the ground, incorporate plenty of garden compost or well-rotted manure into the hole when planting.

Hillier top tip: For detailed planting advice, see our guide to planting large shrubs and trees

If growing in a container, the most typical size of pot when you first purchase the plant is 17cm (although larger, more mature plants are also often available). If the container is large enough, this plant can grow to be around 4 feet high and wide over time (it would naturally reach this size if grown directly in the ground). As long as the plant is well watered and fed, a 35 cm to 40 cm diameter pot will support a healthy P. ‘Kojo-no-mai’. When re-potting, always put some crocks or stones in the bottom of the pot to help with drainage.

Hillier tip: We recommend moving up pot size in stages, re-potting every couple of years as the plant grows; jumping straight from a 17cm to 35-40cm pot may look a little strange until the plant grows to fill it. This approach also allows for the addition of some new compost for the roots to grow in. Potting from a 17cm to a 25cm-27cm pot is a good first step.

Pruning

Prune lightly in summer after flowering, removing dead, diseased or crossing branches and shaping as desired. Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-no-mai’ will tolerate a harder prune, allowing you to keep its shape small and compact if desired.

Watering

Water well for the first few months after planting, particularly during any dry spells.

Complementary Planting Ideas

This brilliant specimen tree suits even small gardens. Plant them near a patio or terrace, or perhaps within a rock garden.

Fact

Also known as the ‘Fuji cherry,’ Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-no-mai’ is a very popular plant in its native Japan, where it is frequently grown as a bonsai in very small gardens.