When it comes to cherry blossom, there are no bad varieties. All these plants are beautiful in their own way; they differ in color, size, etc. Differences in characteristics make each variety unique and noteworthy.
The main difference between Kwanzan Cherry Tree and Yoshino Cherry is the flowers. Kwanzan Cherry Tree has flowers with many more petals of bright pink color. The Yoshino Cherry Tree, on the other hand, has the usual number of white petals. Also, Kwanzan blooms a little earlier than Yoshino.
| Kwanzan | Yoshino | |
| Hardiness zone | 5-9 | 5-8 |
| Mature height | 30-40 ft | 40-50 ft |
| Mature width | 30-40 ft | 50 ft |
| Growth rate | fast | fast |
| Light exposure | full sun, partial shade | full sun, partial shade |
| Soil | moist, drained | moist, drained |
| Soil pH | 6.5-7.0 | 6.5-7.0 |
| Watering | 2 times per month in a drought | 2 times per month in a drought |
| Diseases | fungus | fungus |
| Pests | insects | insects |
Kwanzan Cherry Tree and Yoshino Cherry Tree
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They have different flowers
One of the most significant differences between these varieties is that Kwanzan has flowers of a different shape. This seems unimportant at first glance, but in fact, the plants look different.
The Yoshino flower looks ordinary with five petals. Inflorescences have an average of 10 flowers; they look like beautiful pompoms.
There is nothing extraordinary in this; Yoshino flowers are no different from most cherry blossoms.
On the other hand, Kwanzan flowers are much more complex; they have two or three petals rows. Petals that are closer to the center are shorter than those growing at the edges. As a result, the flower looks much lusher.
Another feature is that the edges of the petals are wavy, which makes the flower more beautiful.
Besides, the number of flowers in the inflorescence is greater than in Yoshino (12-13). All this makes Kwanzan look like a tree with bunches of lush flowers that remotely reminds the hydrangea.
The flowers of these two varieties differ not only in shape but also in color.
Yoshino has pale pink flowers that seem almost white from afar. And only up close can you see the pink color.
Kwanzan flowers are brighter; they have a pink color that is visible from a distance.
From this, we can conclude that Kwanzan looks more impressive compared to its competitor. However, lush inflorescences are not 100% good, but more on that later.
Kwanzan bloom after Yoshino
The second difference is that Kwanzan blooms a little later than Yoshino. Depending on the climate and other conditions, the difference can range from a few days to two weeks.
Yoshino usually blooms in late March and through April. Kwanzan blooms in early April and until the end of the month.
The difference in flowering can sometimes be 4-5 days.
Knowing the flowering periods of cherry blossom, you can achieve continuous spring flowering of these beautiful plants by planting varieties with different flowering times.
You can even buy a cherry blossom that blooms twice a year; this will allow you to enjoy the flowers for a more extended period. The variety that blooms twice a year is called Autumnalis Cherry Blossom.
A common problem is the lack of flowering in some years. The most common reasons for this are spring frosts, insufficient sunlight, not enough water. Less common causes are pests or diseases, as well as improper pruning.
If the frost hit in the spring and the cherry blossom does not bloom, then there is nothing you can do. However, if the plants do not have enough light, transplant them, and do not forget to water in a drought.
Do not forget to apply phosphorus fertilizers for lush flowering.
Kwanzan messier than Yoshino
The next difference between these varieties is the amount of waste.
After flowering, Yoshino sheds its petals and flowers within a few days. A small layer of the flower remains formed under the tree. These remnants can disintegrate or can be collected with a rake and thrown in the trash.
Cleaning up after Yoshino will take one day, and everything will be fine.
Everything is different with Kwanzan. This variety drop flowers longer; this process can take more than a week.
If you do not remove the fallen flowers, then a lot of debris will accumulate under the canopy. After the rain, the fallen petals will create a paste layer that will be quite difficult to clean.
In addition to the number of flowers, their sizes are larger than in Yoshino, which means that amount of garbage will be much more.
Another disadvantage of Kwanzan is that the flowers and petals are tighter, so they do not decompose quickly. This process can take months.
I can definitely say that Kwanzan requires more time for cleaning after flowering. You can use a leaf blower to deal with this faster. Also, this tool will make cleaning easier.
Kwanzan owners also use a lawnmower to collect fallen flowers, which also simplifies and speeds up the work.
Yoshino bigger
Although Kwanzan looks lusher than its counterpart due to its lush blooms, it reaches smaller sizes.
Under the same favorable conditions, Yoshino can grow up to 40% larger than Kwanzan. The number of flowers can explain this difference in size.
It’s no secret that the process of seed formation (including flowering) requires a lot of energy from the plant, i.e., the plant will spend less energy on its growth.
Because Kwanzan has more flowers in the inflorescences, it will be smaller in size. Besides, this variety has more complex flowers that require more time and energy to form.
Yoshino blooms less abundantly and spends more energy on the formation of new branches.
This difference must be taken into account when planting.
For Yoshino, you need to allocate more space and plant away from home. The crown of this variety can spread more than 50 feet (15 m), so other plants should be placed at a distance of at least 25 feet (7-8 m). The same applies to the house.
Another advantage of Yoshino is the presence of the weeping variety. Its name is Yoshino Weeping Cherry Tree (Prunus x yedoensis Pendula). This is a unique variety that has flowering drooping branches; it looks awe-inspiring.
Kwanzan needs a little more sun
The difference between sun requirements in these two varieties not significant, but Kwanzan needs more sun than Yoshino.
Kwanzan needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. In colder climates (hardiness zone 5) for abundant flowering, the plant may require 8 hours of direct sunlight.
As I mentioned earlier, Cherry Blossom may not bloom or bloom very poorly in the absence of light. Therefore, plant this variety in an open sunny place; other plants should grow at a sufficient distance from it.
Yoshino needs a little less light. In climate zone 9, this variety will have enough 4 hours of direct sun, although it can withstand more.
Partial shading will not significantly affect Yoshino than its counterpart, but this does not mean that the plant will grow in the shade.
Both of these varieties will grow well in full sun (10-12 hours a day).
Kwanzan hardier than Yoshino
Kwanzan has a slightly wider range of climatic zones than Yoshino.
In general, Kwanzan grows from 5 to 9 hardiness zones. There are examples of successful cultivation, even in zone 4. However, for these plants to be more comfortable in winter, it is necessary to mulch the roots.
On the other hand, Yoshino can grow from 5 to 8 hardiness zones. This means that it can not tolerate heat in the southern United States and severe frosts in the north.
As a result, Kwanzan, due to its tolerance to different climatic conditions, is accessible to more gardeners.
In addition to differences, these varieties have similar features. They can grow on a wide range of soils, but they need fertilizers with high phosphorus content for good flowering.
Sometimes these plants can get sick and affected by pests, so they need spraying with fungicides and pesticides or Neem Oil.