Cerasus ‘Yoko’

Japanese name: サクラ‘陽光’
Scientific name: Cerasus ‘Yoko’

[Overview]
A cultivar produced by crossing Amagi-yoshino and Kanhi-zakura.
A tall deciduous tree.
The leaves are simple and alternate, obovate, 9–13 cm long and 5–7 cm wide, with a sharply pointed, tail-like tip.
The upper surface of the leaf is glossy, and the veins on the underside have hairs.
The leaf margin has fine double serrations.
The petiole is about 2 cm long and has 1–2 nectar glands at its upper end.
It flowers before the leaves appear.
The flowers are usually borne three at a time in umbels from the leaf axils; they are five-petaled, about 4.5 cm across, and crimson-purple.
The petals have slightly undulating wrinkles.
The calyx tube is long bell-shaped, and the sepals are oblong-lanceolate with entire margins.
Both the calyx tube and sepals are deep crimson-purple to crimson and hairless.
The pedicels have many spreading hairs.

[History]
It is a cultivar bred by Takaoka Masaaki of Ehime.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings or grafting.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained location.
If it grows into a large tree in the garden and becomes a problem, restrict the space available to the roots with a fabric pot 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 the branches needlessly if it is not necessary.
It is prone to many pests and diseases, so care is needed.

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