Cerasus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’

Japanese name: 十月桜
Scientific name: Cerasus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’

[Overview]
A cultivar of the Ko-higan-zakura group.
A small deciduous tree.
Young branches are covered with many ascending hairs.
The leaves are simple and alternate, oblong to oblong-obovate, 3.5–5.5 cm long and 2–2.5 cm wide.
The leaves are hairy on both surfaces, especially along the veins on the underside.
The leaf margins have sharp double or single serration.
The flowers are borne in umbels arising from the leaf axils; they are about 2.5 cm across with 10–16 petals, and pale pink to white.
There are 40–60 stamens.
The pistil is much longer than the stamens, and the lower half or base of the style has long hairs.
The pedicels are covered with many ascending hairs.
It begins to bloom around October, blooms intermittently through winter, and flowers again in spring.
The spring flowers are slightly larger and the pedicels are longer.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings or grafting.
It prefers a place with good sunlight and drainage.
If it becomes too large in a garden planting, it helps to restrict the space available for root growth with a fabric pot in order to control the size of the tree.
While it is a young tree, protect it from frost by laying straw around the base, for example.
Also, it is better not to cut the branches needlessly if there is no need.
Pests and diseases are numerous, so care is needed.

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