Cerasus ×chichibuensis var. uyekii ("Ogurayamazakura")

Japanese name: オグラヤマザクラ （小倉山桜）
Scientific name: Cerasus ×chichibuensis var. uyekii

[Overview]
A small deciduous tree presumed to be a hybrid of Edo-higan and Choji-zakura, with characteristics close to Edo-higan.
The leaves are simple and alternate, with double serrations on the margin; the teeth are triangular and end in a gland.
The leaf tip is pointed.
The upper surface of the leaf is sparsely covered with appressed hairs, and on the underside appressed hairs grow along the veins.
The flowers are borne in umbels from the leaf axils; they are white with 5 petals and open from early to late April.
The petals are obovate-round or oblong.
There is almost no flower stalk, and the small flower stalks are 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.
It resembles Chichibu-zakura, but is distinguished from it by the nectary glands on the upper part of the leaf stalk and by its narrower, longer leaves.

[History]
It was discovered by Ueki Hohei on Ogurayama in Nikko.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings or grafting.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained site.
If it becomes a problem by growing into a large tree in a garden, it is good to limit the space in which the roots can spread by using a fabric pot, to control the size of the tree.
While it is a young tree, protect it from frost by spreading straw around the base of the plant, for example.
Also, it is better not to cut the branches needlessly unless necessary.
Pests and diseases are numerous, so care is needed.

[Notes]
The variety epithet uyekii comes from Ueki, the discoverer.

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