Species and varieties in the National Collection of Flowering Cherries at
Keele University
Prunus 'Imose'
Sato-zakura Group
[Syn: P. serrulata ‘Imose’ Wilson; P. lannesiana Wilson]
‘Imose’ is an old Japanese word meaning ‘man and woman’, ‘brother and sister’ or ‘husband and wife’ or ‘younger sister on the back’, named for the invariable character of this cultivar to produce twin fruits close together on one stalk. Recorded in 1891 at Hirono Shrine, Kyoto, but probably much older. Imported into W. Europe in 1927 by Collingwood Ingram.
An umbrella-shaped tree, strong grower to 6 m high x 4 m across, comparatively disease free.
Double flowers pink 4.0-4.5 cm dia. With 20-25 petals in a flattish plane. Abundant flowers in large open corymbs of 3-4 flowers. Outer whorl of petals sometimes show green stripe on reverse resembling sepals. Flowers are purplish pink in bud opening to light almost white (RHS 75-D). Mid-season flowering usually followed by a few typical twin fruits. Yellow autumn colour.
Earliest foliage is pale copper-red (RHS 164-A) colour turning shining grass-green. Singly-serrated leaves c.15 x 7 cm. Holds its leaves late when turn a rich yellow colour.
Location
- One by the old university entrance; square N2; tag 4159. Planted in 2008.
- One in the Memorial Garden; square K11; tag 4220. Planted in 2012.