It is a species of cherry tree native to Japan, Korea, and China. It is used ornamentally for its spring flowering. Small, deciduous tree, with a single, small trunk and a dense canopy. The bark is smooth and brown, with prominent, horizontal lenticels (small, circular or elongated structures that form on the bark or surface of trunks).
Curiosities
The genus name is the classic Latin name for the plum tree. Serrulata refers to the serrated margin of the leaves. ‘Karzan’ is a Japanese word, from classical poetry, that means “bordering the mountain.”
In Japan, they use the flowers to make a tea called Sakurayu.
It is planted in streets and avenues because it tolerates pollution very well, has spectacular spring flowering, and its leaves display intense reddish colors in autumn.
| Height | Between 5 or 6 m. |
| Leaves | They are alternately distributed, have an ovate-lanceolate shape, and are 5-13 cm long and 2.5-6.5 cm wide. |
| Flowers/Fruit | The flowers emerge in spring, forming clustered groups of 2 to 5 units. They vary in color from white to pink, with five petals in the wild tree type. |
| Climate/Habitat | They prefer light soil (leaning towards sandy) to favor drainage. |
| Common Name | Ornamental Cherry Tree |
| Scientific Name | Prunus Serrulata |
| Genus | Prunus |
| Family | Rosaceae |
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