Cerasus nipponica var. alpina ("Kumoizakura")

Japanese name: クモイザクラ （雲居桜）
Scientific name: Cerasus nipponica var. alpina

[Overview]
A small deciduous tree.
It is found in the subalpine zone and is presumed to be a dwarfed type of Takane-zakura.
The bark is dark gray and glossy, with scattered lenticels.
First-year branches are hairless.
The leaves are obovate to obovate-elliptic, with a tail-like pointed tip and 2 nectar glands at the base.
Both sides of the leaves are usually hairless.
The leaf margins have sharp double serration, and the glands at the tips of the teeth are indistinct.
The leaf stalk is hairless.
It flowers at the same time as the leaves unfold.
The flowers are borne 2–3 at a time in umbels at the leaf axils of the previous year's branches; they have 5 petals and are pale pink to white.
The petals are broadly obovate to broadly elliptic.
The secondary flower stalks are 1–2.5 cm.

[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, it is good to restrict the space available to the roots with a fabric pot in order to control the size of the tree.
While it is a young tree, protect it from frost by spreading straw around the base, for example.
Also, it is better not to cut the branches needlessly if there is no need.
It is prone to many pests and diseases, so care is needed.

[Notes]
There is also a theory that it is a dwarf form of Mame-zakura.

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