Cerasus × kanzakura ‘Oh-kanzakura’

Japanese name: 大寒桜
Scientific name: Cerasus × kanzakura ‘Oh-kanzakura’

[Overview]
A cultivar of the Kanhizakura group, presumed to be a hybrid of Kanhizakura and Oshima-zakura.
A deciduous tree.
The tree has an umbrella-shaped form, and the branch tips extend horizontally and undulate.
The bark is blackish purplish brown.
The leaves are simple and alternate, elliptic to elliptic-obovate, 6–12 cm long and 3–6 cm wide, with a tail-like pointed tip and a rounded base.
The serrations are a mixture of single and double serrations.
The upper surface of the leaf is slightly glossy, and the underside is slightly whitish.
The petiole is about 1.5–2 cm long, with 2 nectar glands at the upper end, and is tinged with reddish purple.
The flowers are borne 2–4 in umbels arising from the leaf axils; they are pale pink, 5-petaled, and about 3 cm across.
The petals are broadly ovate to round with a notch at the tip.
The bud scales also have short curly hairs at the tip of the outer surface.
The calyx tube is bell-shaped and reddish purple, and the calyx lobes are oblong-ovate and reddish purple, entire, with marginal hairs.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings or grafting.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained place.
If it becomes too large in a garden, it is good to restrict the space for the roots to spread 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.
Also, it is better not to cut branches needlessly if there is no need.
Pests and diseases are numerous, so care is needed.

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