Species and varieties in the National Collection of Flowering Cherries at
Keele University
Prunus 'Ukon'
Sato-zakura Group
It was introduced to Britain from Japan at the turn of the 20th century.
The flowers, which are semi-double and 40-45mm across, are a pale yellow colour – unusual for a cherry, though they take on a pink tinge as they mature. They are produced in profusion and contrast strongly with the copper colour of the freshly emerged leaves. It flowers from mid-April to May.
The autumn foliage grades from flame red to purple. In habit it is a wide-spreading tree reaching 7m high by 10m across so is not really suited to smaller gardens.
RHS Award of Garden Merit 1993, reconfirmed 2012.
Location
- By the Nursery on University Drive; tag 4152, planted 2002, square N5.
- One opposite Holly Hedge on Keele Drive; tag 4041, planted 2008, square I7.
- Two mature trees can be found between Lindsay and the Walled Garden; tags 6460 and 6462, square K10.
- One by old Keele entrance; tag 4156, planted 2009, square N2. This was originally named as Prunus 'Asagi'
