Rancho Cherry Blossom Trees

• Variety: Rancho, a narrow, upright form of Sargent's Cherry
• Latin name: Prunus sargentii 'Rancho'
• Sold as: Bareroot standards, 6/8 and 8/10cm girth
• Mature size: About 10m tall and 3 to 4m wide
• Flowers: Dark pink, on bare wood in April
• Leaves: Copper-purple when young, dark green in summer, red and yellow in autumn
• Bark: Smooth, shiny, reddish-brown
• Position: Full sun
• Soil: Any well-drained soil
• Pruning: In midsummer, if at all
• Uses: Small gardens, narrow spaces, avenues
• Hardiness: H6, hardy through the British winter
• Delivered: Bareroot, November to April. Collection from Castle Cary also available

Rancho is a narrow, upright flowering Cherry: about 10 metres tall and never much more than 3 to 4 metres wide. It flowers dark pink on bare branches in April, colours red and yellow in autumn, and has shiny reddish bark for the winter.

Rancho Cherry Blossom Trees

Probably the most upright of the flowering cherries, Prunus sargentii Rancho is a narrow form of the beautiful Prunus sargentii cherry tree which has pink blossom and brilliant autumn colour.
It has profuse, dark pink flowers that appear on bare wood in the spring, while its copper-purple young leaves are still very small. The leaves have serrated edges and turn dark glossy green in the summer. In autumn, they put on an awesome display of red and dark yellow. The flowers can sometimes be followed by small, bitter cherries which are taken by birds and squirrels. Rancho has rather shiny, smooth reddish brown bark that shows well when the tree is dormant.
Young trees are extremely narrow, and although they'll begin to spread out a bit more when they're mature, they never lose their erect form and old trees (50 years+) shouldn't develop a canopy more than about 3-4 metres wide, perfect for tight spaces. They can reach a height of about 10 metres.

Browse our variety of cherry blossom trees or our full range of ornamental trees.

Delivery season: Rancho cherry trees are delivered bareroot from late autumn to early spring, November to April.
Choosing a size: Small trees are cheaper, easier to handle and more forgiving of less than ideal aftercare, so they're best for a big planting project. If instant impact is your priority, or if you are only buying a few plants for use in a place where it's convenient to water them well in their first year, then you may as well use bigger ones. Our standard trees are measured by the girth of the trunk in centimetres, one metre above the ground, not by their height.

Growing Rancho Cherry Trees

Suitable for any well drained soil, we recommend planting in full sun.

History & Trivia

The species is native to Japan and China, and this variety was introduced to Britain from America in 1950.

Standard trees are measured by their girth in centimetres 1 metre above ground level: their trunk's waist measurement. Unlike sapling trees and hedge plants, standards aren't measured by their height, which will vary quite a bit both between and within species.
So, a 6/8cm standard tree has a trunk with a circumference of 6-8cm and an 8/10 standard has a trunk 8-10cm around. This measurement makes no difference to the tree's final height.
On average, standard trees are 2-3.5 metres tall when they arrive, but we cannot tell you precisely how tall your trees will be before we deliver them.

Planting Companions

Rancho is one of three narrow, upright Cherries we grow, with Amanogawa and Spire. For more trees that suit a tight space, see our small garden trees. Dust bareroot roots with Rootgrow as you plant.

Why Ashridge for Garden Trees?

Ashridge has sold trees since 1949 and is a Which? Best Plant Supplier 2025. Your Rancho Cherry comes as a bareroot tree, lifted to order while dormant and guaranteed for 12 months. Plant it between November and April, and it will establish readily.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big does Rancho grow?

About 10 metres tall. It stays narrow all its life: even an old tree should not be much more than 3 to 4 metres wide.

Is it good for a small garden?

Yes, where space is tight but there is room for height.

When does it flower?

In April, on bare wood, while the young copper-purple leaves are still very small.

Does it have fruit?

Sometimes: small, bitter Cherries, which the birds and squirrels take.

When should you prune it?

In midsummer, and only if you need to. Winter cuts are best avoided on any Cherry.

Where should you plant it?

In full sun, in any soil that drains well.

When are the trees delivered?

Bareroot only, from November to April, while the trees are dormant. You can order at any time of year and your tree is lifted and sent once the season opens.