Not recommended for Sunset zone 37 (stops at 34 and 39).
Sunset claims longer life and fewer problems than most other flowering fruit trees, plus a "gnarled, picturesque" form with age. UFL repeats these claims nearly verbatim; did one copy the other? Meanwhile, Dirr/Warren say "fickle and usually not long-lived".
Thorough pruning recommended for best bloom.
Long bloom period (4+ weeks), though flowers may be sensitive to late frosts.
Poor compartmentalizer of decay.
Brent at Evergreen Garden Works warns that the deep red varieties are all weak growers prone to disease.
'Rosemary Clarke' has powerfully fragrant single white flowers, smelling mostly of pear brandy, and is a strong grower. 'Peggy Clarke' has dark pink flowers and is more frost-hardy; 'W.B. Clarke' is similar but weeping. 'Dawn' is a strongly scented double pink that blooms later than most and thus may better avoid frost damage. 'Kobai' is a darker (semi-)double pink/red that smells of hot cinnamon candies, with upright growth (vigor is debated). 'Okitsu-akabana' may have the largest flowers of all and is very vigorous. 'Bridal Veil' (double pink opening white), 'Fragrant Snow' (semi-double, vigorous), and 'Hokkai-bungo' (pink/red) are also singled out by Dirr/Warren as fragrant.
Sources: Sunset, UFL, Missouri BG, Cal Poly, Rutgers, Druse, Evergreengardenworks.com, Dirr/Warren.
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