Dielsiana

Prunus 'Dielsiana'

This Chinese cherry species was discovered on his 1888 expedition to Jianshi in Hupeh Province, Central China by the famous Irish plant collector Augustine Henry in 1888, but only introduced into the UK by E.H. (Chinese) Wilson in 1907.

It forms a small deciduous tree or shrub to c.6m (20ft) in height. It is intensely floriferous with white or pale pink single flowers c. 2.5 cm (1 inch) across occurring in umbels of 2 to 6,  with prominent stamens and pistil and with a deep red calyx behind. Petals are deeply notched at the end. It flowers in April. The bark on the trunk and branches is a deep mahogany red and the leaves are large with downy undersides. It is closely related to P. cyclamina, another Chinese species.

Recently, (2019), a paper by three taxonomists has shown that what they consider to be the valid publication date of the name P. dielsiana had been preceded by the valid publication date of P. rufoides, hitherto considered a synonym of P. dielsiana: consequently the latter name should now be replaced by P. rufoides. We await to see whether this change will be generally accepted.

Location

• One in the Memorial Garden; square K11; tag 4300. Planted in 2015.