Prunus serrulata

What to Eat

Edible parts: Flowers, Fruit, Seeds

The fruit is edible and approximately 8–10mm in diameter, containing one large seed. The flowers are pickled in salt and eaten in tea or alongside rice gruel. The seed can be eaten raw or cooked, but should not be consumed if it tastes excessively bitter.

Known Hazards

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant. In northern China it grows between 400-1,500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 5-9. Arboretum Tasmania. Melbourne Botanical Gardens.

Africa, Asia, Australia, Britain, Canada, China, East Africa, Europe, Japan, Korea, North America, Tasmania, USA, Zimbabwe,

How to Identify

A small tree. It has wide spreading branches. It grows 3-4.5 m high. The bark is brown and ringed with breathing pores. The leaves are oval. There is an abrupt tip and rounded base. There are sharp teeth along the edge. The flowers are white or pink. They occur in large clusters. The fruit are small and black.

How to Grow

Thrives in a well-drained moisture-retentive loamy soil. Prefers some lime in the soil but is likely to become chlorotic if too much lime is present. Succeeds in sun or partial shade though it fruits better in a sunny position. Most members of this genus are shallow-rooted and will produce suckers if the roots are damaged. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation: Seed requires 2–3 months of cold stratification and is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed should be sown in a cold frame as early in the year as possible, with protection from mice. Germination can be slow, sometimes taking up to 18 months. Prick out seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle, overwinter in a greenhouse or cold frame, and plant out in late spring or early summer the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel can be taken in July/August in a frame. Softwood cuttings from vigorous plants can be taken in spring to early summer in a frame. Layering can be done in spring.

Medicinal Uses

No specific research has been recorded for this species, but all Prunus members contain amygdalin and prunasin, which break down in water to release hydrocyanic acid (prussic acid or cyanide). In small amounts, this highly toxic compound can stimulate respiration, aid digestion, and produce a sense of well-being.

Other Uses

A green dye can be extracted from the leaves, and the fruit yields a dark grey to green dye.

Prunus serrulata or Japanese cherry is a species of cherry tree that grows wild in Japan, China, Korea and Vietnam. The term also refers to a cultivar produced from Prunus speciosa (Oshima cherry), a cherry tree endemic in Japan. Historically, the Japanese have developed many cultivars by selective breeding of cherry trees, which are produced by the complicated crossing of several wild species, and they are used for ornamental purposes all over the world. Of these, the cultivars produced by complex interspecific hybrids based on the Oshima cherry are also known as the Cerasus Sato-zakura Group.

Notes

There are about 200 Prunus species.

More from Rosaceae

Acaena anserinifolia

Bidgee widgee, Buzzy, New Zealand Bur

No photo

Acaenia anserinifolia - (J.R.Forst.&G.Forst.)Druce.

Pirri-Pirri Bur

Adenostoma sparsifolium

Red shanks, Ribbonwood

Agrimonia eupatoria

Agrimony, Salt and Pepper

Agrimonia odorata

Adour agrimony, Liver-wort

Agrimonia pilosa

Indian chestnut, Agrimony