Species and varieties in the National Collection of Flowering Cherries at
Keele University
Prunus x yedoensis 'Somei-yoshino' Tokyo Cherry
A hybrid between P. speciosa and P. spachiana f. ascendens introduced around 1907.
It was named in 1800s after the village of Somei on the outskirts of Tokyo; but which now forms part of Tokyo - hence it's name of Tokyo Cherry. It is the most widely planted cherry in Japan. It has bluish-white single flowers, up to 30mm across but, before the fall, the centre of each flower and the stamens turn bright purplish-pink.
It flowers early from late March. The autumn leaves are reddish to bright orange and it forms a wide-spreading tree to 10m with a similar spread.
RHS Award of Garden Merit 1993, reconfirmed 2012.
Location
- One behind the Chapel; tag 4012. Planted in 2002.
- One opposite running track; square H6; tag 4090. Planted in 2008.
- One in the Memorial Garden; square K11; tag 4350. Planted in 2021.