Prunus incisa Common name: Fuji cherry Family: Rosaceae Vital statistics Height and spread: 8m (25ft) x 8m (25ft). Form: Deciduous shrub or small tree. Soil: Any, provided it is not waterlogged. Aspect: Full sun. Hardiness: Fully hardy.

Prunus incisa @ Wisley

Cultivars of Prunus incisa including 'February Pink', 'Kojo-no-mai', and 'Praecox' AGM grow in the Rock Garden and Jubilee Arboretum, with the highest concentration around Seven Acres and the edge of the Pinetum. 

Prunus

Prunus is the Latin name for plum or cherry. This genus of over 200 species of deciduous or evergreen shrubs or trees is widely distributed in northern temperate regions and south to the mountains of S E Asia and the Andes in South America. It is usually found in woodland but also in some other habitats including cliffs and coastal sands.

The trees are grown mainly for their flowers and autumn colour and the shrubs for their flowers, autumn colour, bark and fruits.

All Prunus have alternate, oval to oblong leaves which are usually toothed. The flowers are white, pink or sometimes red, saucer-, bowl- or cup-shaped with five petals (more in the double or semi-double forms). Spherical or ovoid fruits usually follow the flowers, some of which are edible. However, leaves and fruits of most species may cause discomfort if ingested.

They make excellent specimen trees and many are suitable for small gardens. Some species are suitable for hedging.

Prunus incisa

This species comes from South West Japan. It is a deciduous, rounded, spreading shrub, sometimes a small tree. Its small leaves are ovate and sharply toothed and up to 6cm (2.5in) long, and are bronze-red when young, turning dark green, and finally orange-red in autumn. Incisa means "deeply and irregularly cut" and refers to the serrations of the leaf.

Flowers are saucer-shaped, white or pale pink and 2cm (0.75in) across and are either solitary or in clusters of two or three. They appear before the leaves in early to mid-spring and are occasionally followed by ovoid, cherry-like, purple-black fruits up to 8mm (0.4in) long. 

It makes an ideal specimen tree for a small garden.

'February Pink' has pale pink flowers over a long period in winter and early spring and tiny reddish, rounded fruits.

'Kojo-no-mai' has light red buds opening to pale pink flowers, 1.5cm (0.5in) across, borne singly or in pairs. The leaves are yellow-green when young, turning to mid-green in summer. 

'Praecox' AGM has pink buds that open to white flowers in late winter.

'Mikinori' was named after the Japanese botanist and plant collector Mikinori Ogisu. It is shrubby with semi-double white flowers which are pink in bud.

'Omoinoyama' has profuse, double, pale-pink flowers.

'The Bride' is a small shrubby, spreading tree with pure white flowers that have prominent red stamens.

P. incisa f. yamadae has white flowers and buds and was discovered near Mount Fuji in 1916.

AGM

The RHS Floral B Committee awarded Prunus incisa 'Praecox' an Award of Garden Merit and described as: Small, bushy deciduous tree with strongly toothed, ovate leaves turning red and orange in autumn, and pink buds opening to white flowers.

Cultivation

Grow in any moist but well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun.

Minimal pruning is required for shrubs or trees in late winter or early spring, to maintain a healthy framework. However, if silver leaf is a problem, prune in midsummer.

Trim hedges after flowering.

Prunus is susceptible to damage from aphids, caterpillars and bullfinches.

Diseases include silver leaf, honey fungus, blossom wilt and Taphrina wiesneri which causes witches broom (abnormal crowding of shoots).

Propagation

Take softwood cuttings of cultivars in summer.