Cerasus ‘Okame’

Japanese name: サクラ‘オカメ’
Scientific name: Cerasus ‘Okame’

[Overview]
A horticultural cultivar produced by crossing Kanhi-zakura and Mame-zakura.
A deciduous shrub.
The bark is glossy dark purplish brown.
The branches ascend obliquely.
The leaves are simple and alternate, oblong-lanceolate, 5–7 cm long and 2.3–2.8 cm wide, with tips drawn out into a tail.
The leaf margins have deeply notched double serrations, sometimes mixed with single serrations.
It flowers before the leaves emerge.
The flowers are borne 2 at a time in umbels arising from the leaf axils; they are 5-petaled, about 1.5 cm in diameter, reddish purple, and the petal tips are 2-lobed.
The flowers do not open fully; they are bell-shaped and face downward.
The pistil protrudes beyond the stamens, and the style is hairless.
The calyx tube is long and bell-shaped, and the calyx lobes are ovate-triangular with entire margins.
Both the calyx tube and calyx lobes are deep reddish purple.
The pedicels are hairless.

[History]
This cultivar was produced by Ingram of England and was announced in 1947.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings or grafting.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained location.
If you are concerned about it becoming a large tree in the garden, it is good to restrict the space in which the roots spread by using a fabric pot, in order to control the size of the tree.
While the plant 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 unless necessary.
Because it is prone to many pests and diseases, care is needed.

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