''Prunus sargentii'', commonly known as Sargent's cherry or North Japanese hill cherry, is a species of cherry native to

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

Korea Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...

, Sakhalin (

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

), and China. The tree was named for Charles Sprague Sargent.

Description

''Prunus sargentii'' is a

deciduous In the fields of horticulture and botany, the term deciduous () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed Leaf, leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...

tree that grows tall and broad. New growth is a reddish or bronze color, changing to shiny dark green. The obovate leaves with serrated margins are in length and are arranged alternately. In fall, the leaves turn red, orange, or yellow. It grows single pink flowers on 1-in pedicels, which result in purple-black fruit in summer. The fruits are a favorite of birds, but because of their size (small, pea sized) and color, are considered inconspicuous to humans.

Cultivation

''P. sargentii'' is a fast-growing ornamental tree requiring sun and well-drained soil. The tree can tolerate wind, but not air pollution; it is one of the hardiest cherries, and can be easily transplanted. This makes it suitable for use as a street tree. The tree is moderately drought-tolerant.

History

Native to Korea and Japan, the tree was introduced to America and then the United Kingdom in 1908.

Gallery

File:Prunus sargentii buds.jpg, Buds File:Prunus sargentii flowers.jpg, Flowers File:Prunus sargentii flower detail.png, Flower detail File:Prunus sargentii AA.jpg, ''Prunus sargentii'', 1928 accession (#794-28*B) Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University File:Prunus sargentii (Sargent Cherry) (33862592232).jpg, Flowers

References

* Common Trees of Hokkaido, Hokkaido University Press,

Sapporo is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in Hokkaido, Japan. Located in the southwest of Hokkaido, it lies within the alluvial fan of the Toyohira River, a tributary of the Ishikari River. Sapporo is the capital ...

, 1992, C0045 P2472E

External links

*
''Prunus sargentii'' images at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University Plant Image Database

"Cherry: ''Prunus'' ssp. - April Tree of the Month."
''Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University website'', 2015. Accessed 1 May 2020. {{Taxonbar , from1=Q163039, from2=Q26266371, from3=Q59622000 Cherry blossom sargentii Flora of Japan Trees of Korea Flora of Primorsky Krai Flora of Sakhalin Ornamental trees Taxa named by Alfred Rehder