Prunus subhirtella

Prunus subhirtella
Cultivar 'Pendula', "Weeping Higan Cherry"
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Prunus
Subgenus: Cerasus
Species: P. subhirtella
Binomial name
Prunus subhirtella
Miq.

Prunus subhirtella (Prunus × subhirtella) or Prunus pendula[1] sometimes also called Spring cherry, Higan cherry, or Rosebud cherry[2] is a small deciduous flowering tree originating in Japan, but unknown in the wild. It is probably of hybrid origin between Prunus incisa and Prunus spachiana.

Fruit and flowers

P. subhirtella bears white to pink flowers which may emerge intermittently from autumn through to spring, and small black fruit.[3]

Ornamental use

Several garden forms are known. The variety 'Jugatsu-zakura' (incorrectly known as Prunus × subhirtella 'Autumnalis')[4] is widely grown for its propensity to flower during mild winter weather.[3]

The leaves of P. subhirtella have some garden value for their autumn colour.[3] The cultivar P. × subhirtella 'Autumnalis Rosea' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[5]

References

  1. "Prunus pendula Siebold ex Maxim.". USDA GRIN.
  2. Bailey, L.H.; Bailey, E.Z.; the staff of the Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third: A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada. Macmillan, New York.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 European Garden Flora; vol. IV; 1995
    and Hilliers Manual of Trees and Shrubs
  4. Botany Photo of the Day, 7 February 2011, the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research
  5. "RHS Plant Selector - Prunus × subhirtella 'Autumnalis Rosea'". Retrieved 19 July 2013.
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