Prunus serrulata Seeds | Japanese Flowering Cherry Tree
LATIN NAME: Prunus serrulata
COMMON NAME: Japanese Flowering Cherry, Sakura, Hill Cherry
Plant Profile
A distinctive member of its genus, Japanese Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata) is a small, deciduous tree in the rose family (Rosaceae), native to woodlands of Japan and the east, while it has been cultivated in gardens for a very long time. In good conditions it grows to around Twelve metres. The ratio of effort to reward here is about as good as gardening gets.
Science & Biotechnology
As part of the rose family, Prunus serrulata contributes to research on plant classification and adaptation, while nurseries and gardeners continue to trial it for cultivation. The Japanese flowering cherry has a real and distinguished place in research. Breeders and collectors still work with it, so well-kept seed remains available.
Uses & Benefits
In the garden, Japanese Flowering Cherry earns its place in borders, containers and mixed plantings, and it also rewards growers who raise plants for cutting, drying or kitchen use. The Japanese flowering cherry is a small, deciduous tree of gardens and parks, bearing masses of pale-pink, double flowers in early spring before the leaves. Its flowers feed early bees and insects, and its spreading, layered habit gives a fine presence in garden and park, while its small, black fruits are eaten by the birds. To raise the Japanese flowering cherry, sow seeds in pots of moist, open soil in a cool, bright place, keep them gently watered, and grow little trees on in the sun. Mature plants need little attention in a well-chosen position.
The rose family’s great fruit genus gives plums, cherries, peaches, apricots and almonds, all carotenoid- and polyphenol-rich; in Chinese medicine the kernels and fruits, from Xing Ren for coughs to Yu Li Ren for regularity, are classical herbs, always processed to manage their cyanogenic compounds.
Growing from Seed
Japanese Flowering Cherry grows readily from seed. Surface-sow onto a light, well-drained compost, dust over a thin covering, and keep evenly moist and sunny until the seedlings show. The seed responds well to a cool, moist stratification period, which helps it break dormancy evenly. Shift the seedlings into small pots as soon as they can be handled, and give them bright light until planting-out time.
Our Take
Japanese Flowering Cherry, Sakura, Hill Cherry has real presence in the garden without demanding much in return. As a small, deciduous tree, it settles into a routine quickly once established. A few weeks of cold, moist stratification before sowing mirrors its natural cycle.
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