Prunus × yedoensis

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Common name: Yoshino cherry, Potomac cherry, Tokyo cherry

Family: Rosaceae (Rose)

Synonym: Prunus yedoensis

Distribution: Japan

Habitat: Medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade

Hardiness: -20 - 20 F

Life form: Deciduous tree

Bloom characteristics: White to pink appear in clusters of 3-6 (racemes) appear before or at the same time as the leaves.

Structure: Spreading vase

Average height: 30-40'

Bark characteristics: Red-brown

Bloom Time: March to April

Fruit characteristics: Small, black drupes. .5" diameter.

Foliage characteristics: Simple, alternate, dark green leaves have double serrated margins and are elliptic to oval. 2-5" long.

Fall color: Yellow

Attracts: Birds, butterflies

Description: The Yoshino cherry is a hybridized Japanese flowering cherry tree which has white to slightly pink flowers. It blooms before its leaves emerge in the spring, and creates a serene display. In 1912, this was one of the cherry varieties gifted to Washington, DC by the people of Japan as a symbol of friendship. Each spring, flocks of people try to perfectly time their visit to DC to coincide with the cherry blossom bloom all around the capital. The Yoshino cherry makes up the majority of flowering cherry trees planted in the city.

Links: Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder • University of Connecticut Plant Database • US Forest Service Fact Sheet

1: National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) • Accession: 2017-0379*A • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
2: National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) • Accession: 2017-0380*A • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
3: National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) • Accession: 2017-0382*A • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
4: National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) • Accession: 2017-0384*A • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
5: National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) • Accession: 2017-0385*A • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
6: National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) • Accession: 2017-0386*A • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
7: National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) • Accession: 2017-0389*A • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
8: National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) • Accession: 2017-0390*A • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
9: National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) • Accession: 2017-0397*A • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
10: National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) • Accession: 2017-0433*A • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
11: National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) • Accession: 2017-0436*A • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
12: National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) • Accession: 2017-0439*A • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
13: National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) • Accession: 2017-0441*A • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
14: National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) • Accession: 2017-0470*A • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
15: National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) • Accession: 2017-0471*A • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
16: National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) • Accession: 2017-0472*A • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin

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Taxon

Prunus × yedoensis

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