How often to water oriental bush cherry in California
In July in the Central Valley, established oriental bush cherry in loam needs a deep watering about every 8 days: about 55 gallons each time under a 10 foot canopy, about 47 gallons a week. Oriental bush cherry is a small, bushy deciduous shrub, usually no more than about 5 feet tall and wide, with slender, wiry branches and narrow, lance-shaped leaves. Small pink or white flowers open in mid-spring, now and then followed by small, sour, dark red cherries. It grows best in soil that stays moist but drains well, so it is no drought plant.
How often to water oriental bush cherry, month by month
Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.
How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1.5 feet of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area under the branches, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.
How to tell it needs water
- Soil dry 2 to 3 inches down under the outer branches means oriental bush cherry is ready for a deep soak
- Narrow leaves that droop or fold in afternoon heat, with dry soil below, point to a thirsty shrub
- Leaves yellowing and dropping in midsummer, well before fall, can follow a long dry spell
- Curled new leaves with sticky honeydew and small insects underneath point to aphids, not to a watering fault
- Leaves that pale and yellow while the soil stays soggy for days point to drainage trouble rather than thirst
How to water it
- Water oriental bush cherry with drip or a soaker hose under its branches, keeping water off the leaves and flowers
- Soak until water reaches about 12 inches down, then let the top couple of inches dry before the next soak
- Spread wood chip mulch over the root zone to hold even moisture, keeping it a few inches from the stems
- Plant in full sun in moderately fertile soil that drains well, whether it is clay, loam or sand
- Widen the watered area as the shrub fills out toward its full spread
Through the seasons
Water a new oriental bush cherry through its first summer, until its roots spread past the planting hole. Established shrubs still need deep soakings through summer, since this is a plant for moist, well drained soil. It flowers in mid-spring, grows through summer, then drops its leaves in fall and rests bare through winter. It is very cold hardy, so winter frost is no threat. Winter rain covers the cool months in the Central Valley, where WUCOLS rates it moderate water. WUCOLS has not evaluated it for the north-central coast, the south coast, South Inland, the high desert or the low desert. In those regions, water by soil checks and plant cues.
In pots
At about 5 feet tall and wide, oriental bush cherry can live for some years in a large container. Its roots dislike drying out completely, so check the mix 2 inches down every few days in summer, and daily during Central Valley heat waves. Water until it runs from the drainage holes, then empty the saucer. A dark pot on hot paving dries fast, so shade the pot itself. In winter the bare shrub uses little water. Let the mix dry slightly between soakings, but do not let it go bone dry.
- A year
- 17.11 gal per sq ft
- Reference
- Sacramento climate table
- Counts
- Plant need, before sprinkler losses
Monthly water need by climate zone
Oriental Bush Cherry: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone
| Month | N. Coast | C. Valley | S. Coast | S. Inland | Hi Desert | Lo Desert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | – | 0.4 | – | – | – | – |
| Feb | – | 0.65 | – | – | – | – |
| Mar | – | 1.09 | – | – | – | – |
| Apr | – | 1.52 | – | – | – | – |
| May | – | 2.08 | – | – | – | – |
| Jun | – | 2.48 | – | – | – | – |
| Jul | – | 2.67 | – | – | – | – |
| Aug | – | 2.39 | – | – | – | – |
| Sep | – | 1.8 | – | – | – | – |
| Oct | – | 1.18 | – | – | – | – |
| Nov | – | 0.56 | – | – | – | – |
| Dec | – | 0.34 | – | – | – | – |
| Year | – | 17.11 | – | – | – | – |
How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.
Plants with the same water needs 16
Rated moderate water in the Central Valley, like oriental bush cherry. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.
RosesRosa hybrids..bushmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Citrus TreesCitrus spp.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
AzaleasRhododendron spp. (CA native and non-native spp.)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
CamelliasCamellia japonica (SHADE IN DESERT)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
GardeniasGardenia spp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Japanese MapleAcer palmatummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Avocado TreesPersea americanamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Bird of ParadiseStrelitzia reginae (shade in desert)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
HibiscusHibiscus rosa-sinensismoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Magnolia TreesMagnolia grandiflora ssp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Palm TreesSyagrus romanzoffiana (Arecastrum romanzoffianum)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Sago PalmCycas revolutamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Star JasmineTrachelospermum jasminoides and cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Apple TreesMalus spp. (edible) e.g, 'Anna' (low chill variety for low desert)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Peach TreesPrunus spp. ediblemoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Persimmon TreesDiospyros kakimoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySimilar plants that need less water 16
Rated lower than oriental bush cherry in the Central Valley. Worth a look for a new bed or a lawn replacement.
LavenderLavandula spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
RosemaryRosmarinus officinalislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
BougainvilleaBougainvillea & spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Olive TreesOlea europaea ssp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Fig TreesFicus carica ssp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Crape MyrtleLagerstroemia spp., hybrids & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
LantanaLantana camara ssp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
SalviaSalvia greggii ssp., cvs. & hybridslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
AloeAloe spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
SucculentsEcheveria spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Pomegranate TreesPunica granatumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
EucalyptusEucalyptus polyanthemoslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Pine TreesPinus canariensislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
JunipersJuniperus spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Russian SagePerovskia spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
SagebrushArtemisia spp. (shrubby)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyTurn this into minutes on your water days
Every city page has a calculator that takes oriental bush cherry, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.
Questions people ask
How much water does oriental bush cherry need per day?
In July in the Central Valley, established oriental bush cherry needs about 6.8 gallons a day under a 10 foot canopy and about 27 gallons a day under a 20 foot canopy. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.
Does watering for oriental bush cherry change across California?
Yes. WUCOLS rates oriental bush cherry separately for each of the six California climate zones: not evaluated in the North-Central Coastal zone, moderate water in the Central Valley zone, not evaluated in the South Coastal zone, not evaluated in the South Inland zone, not evaluated in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not evaluated in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.
Why is my oriental bush cherry not fruiting?
Fruit is only occasional on this shrub, even after a good bloom. When it does set, the cherries are small, dark red and sour. A shrub grown for its spring flowers is doing its job without them.
How big does oriental bush cherry get?
It stays small, reaching about 5 feet tall and wide in 5 to 10 years. The slender, wiry branches give it a fine, bushy shape. That size suits a mixed border or a low screen.
What pests attack oriental bush cherry?
Aphids and caterpillars are the main pests. Aphids gather on soft new growth, curl the leaves and leave sticky honeydew. Knock them off with a strong stream of water, and avoid heavy feeding that pushes soft growth.
What diseases affect oriental bush cherry?
It can get peach leaf curl, silver leaf, bacterial canker, blossom wilt and honey fungus. Watering at the base keeps the leaves and flowers dry. Water cannot cure any of these, so have a sample checked if branches die back.
Does oriental bush cherry need full sun?
It does best in full sun, though it also grows in part shade. In part shade the soil dries more slowly. Check it before each soak instead of watering on habit.
What soil does oriental bush cherry like?
It grows in clay, loam, sand or chalky soil, acid or alkaline. What matters is soil that stays moist but drains well. Moderately fertile ground suits it, so there is no need for heavy feeding.
More plant watering guides
Sources
- WUCOLS IV plant water use classification for Prunus japonica, the University of California survey California agencies use for landscape plan reviewRead August 23, 2026 on wucols.ucdavis.edu
- Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, adopted text and appendices, effective 2025-01-02 · monthly reference evapotranspiration per city, Appendix CRead August 23, 2026 on water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/Programs/Water-Use-And-Efficiency/MWELO-Rulemaking/Final-MWELO-Text-and-Appendices_20250103.pdf
- UC Statewide IPM Program, irrigation scheduling using evapotranspirationRead September 30, 2026 on ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/ENVIRON/evap.html
- Shaw and Pittenger, Landscape Irrigation System Evaluation and Management, UC Cooperative Extension, 2009Read September 30, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2013-02/160836.pdf
- Pittenger, Water Management in Gardens and Landscapes, UC Riverside, 2017Read September 30, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2017-03/258022.pdf