Taiwan flowering cherry (Photo by Allen Owings)

The Taiwan flowering cherry (Prunus campanulata) blooms in late January through February in Louisiana.

The attractive flowers are a vibrant, deep pink and are produced in great abundance before the leaves emerge. This is one of the few flowering cherries that grows and blooms reliably this far south.

The Okame flowering cherry is another type that will grow successfully in Louisiana and is especially recommended for north Louisiana because it blooms later and the flowers are less likely to be damaged by a freeze. Pale pink flowers appear in mid-February through early to mid-March.

Allen Owings
Rick Bogren