Cerasus leveilleana f. norioi ("Kataokazakura")

Japanese name: カタオカザクラ （片丘桜）
Scientific name: Cerasus leveilleana f. norioi

[Overview]
A deciduous shrub to small tree.
It is a neotenic (juvenile-flowering) type of Kasumi-zakura; cherry trees generally do not flower until more than 10 years have passed, but Kataoka-zakura flowers 2–3 years after sprouting and reaches only about 4–5 m even when large.
The leaves are elliptic to elliptic-orbicular, with a tail-like pointed tip and usually a rounded base.
There are 2 wart-like nectar glands in the upper part of the petiole.
The leaf margins have somewhat coarse double or single serrations.
The flowers are borne 2–4 in corymbs arising from the leaf axils; they are pale pink with 5 petals.
The petals are broadly obovate to broadly elliptic.
The stamens are slightly shorter than the style.
The calyx tube is cylindrical; the calyx lobes are ovate-lanceolate to oblong and entire.
Fruits are few but do set, ripening blackish purple.
Because seedlings lose the neotenic flowering trait when grown, it is considered a variant form limited to one generation.

[History]
It was discovered in 1945 (Showa 20) by Hideo Kubota at Kataoka, Shiojiri, Nagano, and described by Jisaburo Ohwi.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings or grafting.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained site.
If it grows too large in a garden, it is good to restrict the space for 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, 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]
The variety name norioi was dedicated to Norio, the son of Hideo Kubota.

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