Many people know about the Hanami festival-the Japanese tradition of admiring cherry blossoms. Residents of the land of the rising sun and numerous tourists go to the parks and gardens in the spring with one goal-to see this amazing beauty of lush flowering trees. Hanami is a very short-term pleasure, lasts about 7-10 days, and then the petals fall off. In bad weather (wind, rain), the petals fly around on the 5th day. The optimal temperature for cherry blossoms is +18° (64.4°F). Given the difference in climate between the South and the North, cherry blossoms in Japan stretch for more than three months (from the end of February to the end of May).
Unfortunately, in the middle zone and in the north, it is not possible to enjoy the cherry blossom. It is really worth growing it at a certain latitude, because it can grow, but it will not bloom, because the flower buds freeze in severe winters.
However, there is a solution. The closest relative of sakura-glandular cherry-has sufficient winter hardiness to give us its spring beauty. It can grow in almost any latitude.
Glandular cherry is the only ornamental plant of its kind. Bred forms and varieties with dense double flowers, the abundance of which is simply amazing. More detailed botanical information about the plant can be found in various publications of the site about the famous glandular cherry, where you will also see more detailed photos of the white decorative forms of this plant.
Glandular cherry is not as tall as Sakura: if Japanese beauties can reach 5 meters (5.5 yard) in height, then “our” plant rarely grows more than 2 meters (2.2 yard). Some hybrids tie fruits that are ornamental and edible, while others are barren, and often this plays into the hands of ornamental gardening, as the space under the plant is kept clean.
Cherry blossom glandular
Glandular cherry (Cerasus glandulosa) is a shrub with a height of 0.5-1.5 m (0.5-1.6 yard). The leaves are dark green, orange-pink in autumn, oblong-ovate or lanceolate 3-8 cm (1.2-3.1 inches) long. The flowers are plentiful pink or white (red in the bud), mostly solitary, about 2 cm (0.8 inches) in diameter; they bloom in April-May before or with the appearance of leaves. The fruits are dark red, sweet and sour, about 1 cm (0.4 inches) in diameter; they ripen in July-August. Homeland: Korean Peninsula, Northern China.
Propagate glandular cherries on seedlings of felt cherries, Besseia or any clone of a plum-cherry hybrid. It grows in almost any soil, feels good in partial shade, but the most lush flowering can be obtained by planting it in a sunny place.
We offer you to see with your own eyes a wonderful glandular cherry blossom and you will fall in love with it once and for all.
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