Species and varieties in the National Collection of Flowering Cherries at
Keele University
Prunus 'Ichihara'
Sato-zakura Group
[Syn: P. serrulata v. spontanea ‘Ichihara’; P. lannesiana ‘Ichihara’; P. jamasakura Sieb. cv. Ichihara]
Also known as Prunus 'Ichihara-toro-no-o'; where ‘tora-no-o’ means tiger’s tail in Japanese; it refers to the crowding of the flowers on short stalks at the ends of short spur twigs. More than one cherry has been described with this name; the earliest mentioned in the late C17. However, the one grown today was first recorded in 1785 (possibly), and ‘discovered’ in Ichihara Village, north of Kyoto, in the early C20 by Rev. Kozui Otana. It is a form of the Japanese Mountain Cherry.
A small umbrella-shaped tree to 5 m high, characterized by almost horizontal branches crowded with short vertical twigs or spurs. Flowers are crowded at the ends of these.
Pink double flowers in compact clusters of 3-4 flowers at the ends of spur twigs - very distinctive. Buds are pink with the stigma already protruding but flowers open pure white. Flowers c.3.5 cm dia. with 20-50 petals opening fluffy and disorderly. Spectacular. Flowers late April in Tokyo.
Young green foliage has a bronze cast (RHS 14-6-B, 152-B). Leaves c. 8 x 4 cm showing fine single serration and whitish undersides to leaf-blades, identical with the Japanese Mountain Cherry. Foliage appears with blossom.
Location
- By the postbox; tag 4045, square I8, planted 2008.
