Prunus sargentii

Prunus sargentii, commonly known as Sargent's cherry or North Japanese hill cherry,^[2] is a species of cherry native to Japan, Korea, Sakhalin (Russia), and China.^[3]

Prunus sargentii
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Genus:	Prunus
Subgenus:	Prunus subg. Cerasus
Species:	P. sargentii
Binomial name
Prunus sargentii Rehder
Synonyms
Prunus densifolia Koehne Prunus floribunda Koehne Prunus sachalinensis (F.Schmidt) Miyoshi Prunus serrulata var. sachalinensis (F.Schmidt) E.H.Wilson

The tree was named for Charles Sprague Sargent.^[4]

Description

Tree in Rendeux (Belgium).

Prunus sargentii is a deciduous tree that grows 20–40 ft (6.1–12.2 m) tall and broad. New growth is a reddish or bronze color, changing to shiny dark green.^[5] The obovate leaves with serrated margins are 3–5 inches (7.6–12.7 cm) in length and are arranged alternately. In fall, the leaves turn red, orange, or yellow.^[6] It grows single pink flowers on 1-in pedicels, which result in purple-black fruit in summer.^[5] The fruits are a favorite of birds, but because of their size (small, pea sized) and color, are considered inconspicuous to humans.^[7]

Cultivation

P. sargentii is a fast-growing ornamental tree^[8] requiring sun and well-drained soil. The tree can tolerate wind, but not air pollution; it is one of the hardiest cherries, and can be easily transplanted. This makes it suitable for use as a street tree.^[5] The tree is moderately drought-tolerant.^[6][9]

History

Native to Korea and Japan, the tree was introduced to America and then the United Kingdom in 1908.^{[citation needed]}

Gallery

• 
  Buds
• 
  Flowers
• 
  Flower detail
• 
  Prunus sargentii, 1928 accession (#794-28*B) Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
• 
  Flowers

See also

• For cherry blossoms and their cultural significance to the Japanese, see sakura.