Introduction

‘Hally Jolivette' Cherry forms a dense-branching, 15-foot-tall, fast-growing, small tree. The main delight of growing this tree is the two-week-long display of blooms in spring. Starting out as pink buds, the flowers unfold to pale pink or pure white double blooms, about an inch in diameter, helping the tree to create a striking specimen in the landscape. The foliage lends a fine texture to the landscape, and it maintains a dark green color through moderate drought. In severe drought, foliage burns a little brown at the margins, but there appears to be no long-term harm to the tree. This tree will live longer than many of the cherries.

General Information

Scientific name: Prunus x

Pronunciation: PROO-nus

Common name(s): Hally jolivette cherry

Family: Rosaceae

USDA hardiness zones: 5B through 7B (Figure 2)

Origin: not native to North America

Invasive potential: not assessed/incomplete assessment

Uses: specimen; deck or patio; container or planter; sidewalk cutout (tree pit); highway median; bonsai

Description

Height: 12 to 15 feet

Spread: 10 to 15 feet

Crown uniformity: symmetrical

Crown shape: round

Crown density: dense

Growth rate: moderate

Texture: fine

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: alternate (Figure 3)

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: serrate

Leaf shape: ovate, elliptic (oval)

Leaf venation: brachidodrome, pinnate

Leaf type and persistence: deciduous

Leaf blade length: less than 2 inches, 2 to 4 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: no color change

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: white/cream/gray, pink

Flower characteristics: showy

Fruit

Fruit shape: round

Fruit length: less than 0.5 inch

Fruit covering: fleshy

Fruit color: red

Fruit characteristics: unknown; not showy; fruit/leaves not a litter problem

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: branches droop; not showy; typically multi-trunked; thorns

Pruning requirement: little required

Breakage: resistant

Current year twig color: brown

Current year twig thickness: thin

Wood specific gravity: unknown

Culture

Light requirement: full sun

Soil tolerances: clay; sand; loam; acidic; alkaline; well-drained

Drought tolerance: high

Aerosol salt tolerance: low

Other

Roots: not a problem

Winter interest: no

Outstanding tree: yes

Ozone sensitivity: unknown

Verticillium wilt susceptibility: unknown

Pest resistance: resistant to pests/diseases

Use and Management

Prune to open up the canopy to develop more of a tree-form, otherwise it looks more like a large shrub. Remove interior branches and space main branches along the trunk. A more upright shape can be created by removing lateral branches, a more spreading shape can be promoted by removing upright branches.

Use the tree along an entrance road to a commercial development planted on 20-foot centers or alongside the patio or deck in the back yard. It also makes a nice small-scale courtyard tree. Probably too shrubby for planting in the tree lawn strip between the street curb and the sidewalk although properly trained trees could be tried for this use. Set the trees back about eight feet from the edge of a street on 15-foot centers along a residential or commercial landscape for a nice, uniform ornamental planting.

‘Hally Jolivette' cherry should be grown in full sun on well-drained soil. Grows fine in clay soil which is not too compacted.

Propagation is by cuttings, which root readily.

Pests and Diseases

No pests or diseases are of major concern. Occasionally the tree is bothered by aphids and mites.