Prunus serrulata Kanzan - Cherry Kanzan

Prunus serrulata Kanzan is a medium sized deciduous tree, the powerful main branches form a stiffly vased shaped when young, later spreading to between 5 to 8 metres wide. The bark starts reddish brown and later turns brownish grey and furrowed.

The deciduous, alternating leaves are an intense red when they appear, gradually turning brownish red and then in the summer a lustrous dark green. In autumn they take on a yellow orange colour.

They are pointed, elliptical and 8-12 cm long. At the beginning of May, the numerous dark pink blossoms appear, opening out of the deep red buds at foliation. They are bundled together in groups of 2-5 in umbels. Each individual blossom is around 6 cm wide and densely filled. This variety does not produce fruit.

FACT: Named after the Kanzan meaning “cold mountain” in Japan the Prunus serrulata Kanzan and can even be used as a bonsai tree. Surprisingly they are not commonly used in Japanese gardens but more often appear in Japanese parks.