Prunus yedoensis Matsum.

Yoshino Cherry

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Yoshino Cherry is an introduced deciduous tree in the Rose family (Rosaceae). It is native to Japan and Korea. Yoshino Cherry is planted throughout Alabama and has been collected as a rare escape. It grows along forest edges, in urban woodlands, and on other disturbed sites. It is a small to medium sized tree from 15-30 feet in height. The bark is gray-mottled with prominent lenticels. Young twigs are green in color and pubescent. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, elliptic to ovate in outline, with doubly serrate margins. The teeth are gland tipped. The leaves are glabrous above and pubescent along the veins below. Fragrant flowers are produced in 2-6 flowered corymbs appearing before or with the emergence of the leaves. The individual flowers have 5 green sepals and 5 white or pink petals. The fruit is a black sub-globose drupe. The bitter fruit are highly sought-after by birds. Yoshino Cherry is widely cultivated and is readily available from nurseries. It is often used as a street tree or focal specimen. It is one of the most commonly planted cherry trees in Washington D.C.—A. Diamond.

**

Not Native

Diamond, A.R. 2020. Noteworthy collections of four non-native vascular plant species new to the flora of Alabama and one species rediscovered after 125 years. Castanea 85(2): 319-326.