Prunus sargentii

Prunus sargentii
Sargent's cherry (Prunus sargentii)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Prunus
Subgenus: Cerasus
Species: P. sargentii
Binomial name
Prunus sargentii
Synonyms
  • Prunus sachalinensis (F.Schmidt) Miyoshi
  • Prunus floribunda Koehne

Prunus sargentii, commonly known as Sargent's cherry or North Japanese hill cherry,[1] is a species of cherry native to Japan, Korea, and Sakhalin (Russia).[2]

The tree was named for Charles Sprague Sargent.[3]

Description

Sargent's cherry in Rendeux (Belgium).

Prunus sargentii is a deciduous tree that grows 20–40 feet or 6-12 meter in height. Its crown spreads to a width of 20–40 feet. New growth is a reddish or bronze in color, which changes to shiny dark green.[4] The leaves are obovate and have serrated margins. Leaves are 3–5 inches (7.6–12.7 cm) in length and are arranged alternately. In fall, the leaves turn red, orange, or yellow.[5] It grows single pink flowers on 1-in pedicels, which result in purple-black fruit in summer.[4] The fruit is a favorite of birds, but because of their size (small, pea sized) and color, are considered inconspicuous to humans.[6]

Cultivation

P. sargentii is a fast-growing ornamental tree [7] requiring sun and well-drained soil. The tree can tolerate wind, but not air pollution; it is one of the hardiest cherries, and can be easily transplanted. This makes the tree suitable for use as a street tree.[4] The tree is moderately drought-tolerant.[5]

History

Native to Japan, the tree was introduced to America and then the United Kingdom in 1908.

References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ Common Trees of Hokkaido, pg 104
  3. ↑ Royal Horticultural Society Archived 2007-10-22 at the Wayback Machine., What's On, Harlow Carr, October 2007, last access 31 May 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 Evans, Erv (2000–2003). "Prunus sargentii". Plant Fact Sheets. North Carolina State University. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
  5. 1 2 Brand, Mark (1997–2001). "Prunus sargentii". UConn Plant Database of Trees, Shrubs, and Vines. University of Connecticut. Archived from the original on 2008-05-12. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
  6. ↑ Gilman, Edward F.; Dennis G. Watson (n.d.). "Prunus sargentii: Sargent Cherry" (PDF). Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  7. ↑ "Prunus sargentii". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  • Common Trees of Hokkaido, Hokkaido University Press, Sapporo, 1992, ISBN 4-8329-1032-9 C0045 P2472E

See also

  • For cherry blossoms and their cultural significance to the Japanese, see sakura.
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