Prunus japonica, Japanese bush cherry, pink-to-white spring flowers on wiry branches.
Prunus japonica flowers, pale pink blossoms.
Prunus japonica, Japanese bush cherry, pink-to-white spring flowers on wiry branches.
Prunus japonica flowers, pale pink blossoms.
Medicinal Pollinator Edible Fragrant

Japanese Almond-Cherry

Prunus japonica

$23.00 Sold out
1 Gallon USDA Zones 6–9 Full Sun Matures 2–4 Feet

Prunus japonica, the Japanese bush cherry, is a compact deciduous shrub that wraps wiry branches in pink-to-white spring bloom, then ripens small red cherries, an easy early-flowering plant for small gardens.

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The Full Story

Prunus japonica, the Japanese bush cherry or Japanese almond-cherry, is a compact deciduous shrub grown for an early flood of delicate pink-to-white bloom. Wiry branches carry dense clusters of five-petaled flowers just as the leaves appear, wrapping the low, rounded frame in soft color in early to mid spring.

Small, bright red cherries follow in late summer, round and shiny, tart and slightly astringent, best cooked into preserves and jellies or left for the birds. The narrow, lance-shaped leaves emerge fresh green and turn warm yellow to orange in fall, so the two-to-four-foot shrub earns a place across several seasons.

A small shrub for a small space, Prunus japonica suits the front of a border, a low informal hedge, a container, or a woodland edge, in full sun to part shade and well-drained soil. Long valued in Japan and dependable in warm climates, the plant performs especially well in southern gardens.

Beyond the garden, the seed of Prunus japonica is one source of the traditional Chinese herb yu li ren, long used to moisten the bowels. Give the shrub a sunny, well-drained spot, and enjoy an easy, early-flowering plant that feeds the season's first pollinators.

Photo courtesy of Visions.
Will this plant thrive in your zone?

Explore this plant’s medicinal profile
Plant Profile
At a glance
Hardiness
USDA Zones 6–9
Sun
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained
Mature size
Height 2–4 Feet · Spread 2–4 Feet
Growth rate
Moderate
Seasonality
Deciduous
Design Notes

A compact early-flowering shrub for small spaces. Use Prunus japonica at the front of a border, as a low informal hedge, in a container, or at a woodland edge, where the early pink-to-white bloom and the small red cherries can be enjoyed at close range. The low, rounded frame suits a cottage or wildlife garden, pairs well with spring bulbs and other early perennials, and feeds the season's first bees. Give full sun and well-drained soil, remove basal suckers to hold shape, and enjoy an easy plant valued in Japanese gardens for centuries.

Flower, Fruit & Foliage

Pale pink to white flowers, early to mid spring

Flower. Small, five-petaled flowers in dense clusters along the branches, white to pale pink around golden stamens, about an inch across, opening early to mid spring as the leaves appear; lightly fragrant and an early nectar source for bees.

Fruit. Small, round, bright red cherries about half to one inch across in late summer, shiny and clustered; tart and astringent, good cooked into preserves and jellies, and taken by birds.

Foliage. Narrow, lance-shaped, finely toothed leaves two to four inches long, bright green in spring, deepening in summer, and turning yellow to orange in fall; deciduous.

Care

Read our full care guide

Light. Full sun for the best flowering and fruit; tolerates part shade.

Soil. Well-drained, moderately fertile, slightly acidic to neutral; avoid wet or compacted ground.

Water. Water to establish, then moderately drought tolerant with steady moisture while fruiting.

Pruning. Prune in late winter to shape and improve airflow; light shaping keeps a bushy form.

Hardiness. USDA zones 6 to 9.

Medicinal & Traditional Use
Traditional profile
Tradition
Chinese
Parts used
Seed (kernel)
Preparation
Decoction
Active compounds
Amygdalin, Fatty oils, Flavonoids
Research evidence
2 / 5
Traditional uses
Digestive HealthDetoxification & Cleansing
History & tradition

The seed kernel of Prunus japonica is one botanical source of yu li ren, a herb of traditional Chinese medicine used for well over a thousand years to moisten the intestines and ease constipation from dryness, and to help move fluid and reduce swelling. Like all Prunus seeds, the kernel contains cyanogenic compounds and requires proper preparation and dosing. These are historical and traditional uses only. Nothing here is medical advice, and the plant is offered as an ornamental and ethnobotanical shrub rather than as a remedy.

References & research
  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_japonica
  2. https://acupuncturetoday.com/herbs-and-botanicals/prunus-seed-yu-li-ren
Please note

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is shared for traditional and educational interest only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional before any medicinal use.

  • Seeds contain cyanogenic compounds and require proper preparation
  • Not for use in pregnancy without professional guidance
  • Traditional use only, not clinically evaluated
Here’s a closer look at how we produce our plants

From rooting to shipping, our top priority is ensuring you receive healthy, thriving plants for your garden’s success.

Woodlanders Growing Process

Because most of our plants are grown from rooted cuttings — alongside seed, air layering, and grafting chosen for each variety — you receive a stronger, true-to-type plant that establishes quickly in your garden.

Sustainable Growing Practices

Raised on organic soil blends and eco-friendly pest management — never harsh chemicals — your plant arrives healthy for your garden, your family, and the pollinators they feed.

Supporting Local Biodiversity

Every purchase gives back. We donate to the Aiken Arboretum and support local wildlife conservation, so growing your garden helps protect the wider ecosystem too.

At Woodlanders, we are committed to quality.
Grown in Aiken, South Carolina
At Woodlanders, we are committed to quality.

All our plant material is carefully propagated, grown, and nurtured at our humble nursery in Aiken, South Carolina.

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Healthy plants, ready to thrive

Your plant arrives carefully packed and ready to settle in. Unpack them promptly, give them a day or two to acclimate, then plant following the notes we include — that’s all it takes. Clear care guidance comes with every order, so success is the easy part.

Read the care guide
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What to expect upon delivery

All our plants are sold in 1-gallon sizes, though the height of each plant can vary depending on its growth rate and seasonality, typically ranging from 1/2 to 2.5 feet.

Each plant is carefully packaged with its roots enclosed in a secure plastic bag containing moist soil, forming a compact root ball. To ensure safe transport, the box is padded with recycled newspaper, providing both stability and eco-friendly protection from weather during shipping.
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