Species and varieties in the National Collection of Flowering Cherries at
Keele University
Prunus 'Surugadai-nioi'
Sato-zakura Group
The original tree of this Japanese cultivar was planted in a garden at Surugadai, Bunkyo, Kanda, an inner Tokyo district just NW of the Imperial Palace, once populated by the residences of the ruling daimyos during the last Shogonate (1853-1867). From there it was spread from the Arakawa River Collection during the 1800s.
It is a variety of P. speciosa (the Oshima Cherry or Oshimazakura)
Flowers are single white, 3.5-4.0 (1.5") cm dia on short peduncles, but occasionally can be semi-double (sometimes with over 10 petals) including vexillate (flag-like) ones where stamens turn into petals. Flowering time is late April to early May in Tokyo. Flowers are scented (nioi means scented) but how strongly varies with the person sniffing it.
Leaves appear before the flowers. Young leaf colour is reddish purple. Leaves are oblong, elliptical and large with long pointed tips. Leaf edges have a mixture of double and single serrations with sharp tips.
MJFC No. 135
Location
- One on Cherry Tree Walk; Square L7; tag 4334. Obtained in 2018 but planted out in 2022.