Cerasus ×chichibuensis var. chichibuensis

Japanese name: チチブザクラ （秩父桜）
Scientific name: Cerasus ×chichibuensis var. chichibuensis

[Overview]
A deciduous small tree presumed to be a hybrid of Edo-higan and Choji-zakura, with characteristics intermediate between the two.
It is rarely found at the edges of woods in low mountains.
The leaves are simple and alternate, elliptic-obovate to oblong-oblanceolate, 4–13 cm long and 2–5 cm wide, and the margin has triangular double serrations ending in glands.
The leaf tip is pointed.
The upper surface of the leaf is sparsely covered all over with appressed hairs, and the veins on the underside have appressed hairs.
The flowers are borne in umbels arising from the leaf axils; they are white and 5-petaled, and bloom from early to late April.
The petals are about 1 cm long and obovate-round or oblong.
The flower stalk is almost absent, and the pedicels are 1–2 cm long and densely covered with spreading hairs.
The calyx tube has spreading hairs and is slightly swollen at the base.
The calyx lobes are lanceolate or ovate-triangular.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings or grafting.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained site.
If it becomes troublesome by growing into a large tree in a garden, limit the space available to the roots with a fabric pot to control the size of the tree.
While it is still a young tree, protect it from frost by spreading straw around the base, for example.
Also, it is better not to cut branches needlessly if there is no need.
It is prone to many pests and diseases, so care is needed.

[Notes]
There are also variants in leaf shape and other features.

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