Prunus serrulata, also known as Japanese cherry, hill cherry, oriental cherry or East Asian cherry, is a breathtakingly beautiful flowering tree native to Japan, Korea, and China. Widely grown as a flowering ornamental tree in temperate regions across the world, Prunus serrulata is celebrated for its stunning display of white to pink flowers in the spring. The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. commemorates the gift of Prunus serrulata Japanese cherry trees from Tokyo to the city of Washington in 1912 and they are planted in the Tidal Basin park. The smooth bark, chestnut-brown in color, and leaves which turn yellow, red or crimson in the autumn add to the tree’s aesthetic appeal. With a height of 15-25 feet, Prunus serrulata is a small deciduous tree with a short single trunk and a dense crown. Numerous cultivars have been selected, many of them with double flowers with the stamens replaced by additional petals. Prunus serrulata is an integral part of the Japanese custom of Hanami, celebrating the transient nature and fragility of life.
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