Cerasus nipponica var. kurilensis (Kurile cherry, "Chishimazakura")

Japanese name: チシマザクラ （千島桜）
Scientific name: Cerasus nipponica var. kurilensis

[Overview]
A small deciduous tree.
It is a type of Takane-zakura variation with abundant hairs on all parts.
The trunk branches from the base.
The bark is dark gray and glossy, with scattered lenticels.
The leaves are obovate to obovate-elliptic, with a tail-like pointed tip and a base that is distorted to the left and right.
Both sides of the leaves are usually hairy.
The leaf margins have notched, sharp double serration with teeth ending in glands.
Spreading hairs grow densely on the leaf stalk, which has 2 nectar glands on its upper part.
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.
The petals are broadly obovate to broadly elliptic.
The style is hairless.
The calyx tube is bell-shaped, and the calyx lobes are entire.
Spreading hairs grow on the calyx tube, flower stalk, and secondary flower stalks.
The fruit is spherical, 7–8 mm in diameter, ripening blackish purple, and is sweet and sour.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by cuttings, or by 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]
It is used for forecasting cherry blossom flowering in Nemuro, Hokkaido.

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