Japanese Flowering Cherry

Prunus serrulata

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

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▲ flowering tree

▲  flowers

▲▼ leaves, with below showing some fall color

▲▼ trunk and bark, displaying typical "cherry bark" appearance

Location on Missouri State University campus:  west side of Meyer Library

Leaves:  ovate, glabrous, but rougher textured above; 2-5" long and 2x as wide

Stems:  red to tan, slender; red buds the angle outward from the twigs

Bark:  smooth, reddish-brown with horizontal lenticels when young; brown and scaly with age

Size/Growth Habit and Growth Rate:  20-25' tall, often branching near ground; rounded to flattened oval or vase-shaped habit; medium growth rate

Flowers:  usually double, pinkish in axillary clusters in early spring before leaves emerge

Fruit:  often not produced

Growing Conditions:  prefers full sun, moist, well-drained soils, but very adaptable

Problems:  usually live only 30-40 years due to insect problems