Japanese flowering cherry, Mountain cherry
Prunus serrulata
Family: Rosaceae
What it is like
A small tree. It has wide spreading branches. It grows 3-4.5 m high. The bark is brown and ringed with breathing pores. The leaves are oval. There is an abrupt tip and rounded base. There are sharp teeth along the edge. The flowers are white or pink. They occur in large clusters. The fruit are small and black.
There are about 200 Prunus species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. In northern China it grows between 400-1,500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 5-9. Arboretum Tasmania. Melbourne Botanical Gardens.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Australia, Britain, Canada, China, East Africa, Europe, Japan, Korea, North America, Tasmania, USA, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Flowers, fruit, seeds
How it is grown
It does not breed true from seed. Budding or grafting should be used.
Its other names
Local names
Oriental cherry, Shan Yingtao, Yamazakura