The magnificent Okame cherry bust the disconsolate grip of late winter with an outstanding two- to three - calendar week display of rose-cheeked pink flower . This intercrossed small flowering cerise was produce in England , create by crossing two Asiatic cherry red species . Full sun and moist and fertile soils boost healthy increment and abundant blossoming .
Origins
The Okame cherry tree is a man - developed intercrossed plant . In early 20th century England , remark cherry tree enthusiast Captain Collingwood Ingram experimented with creating a cherry with excellent tolerance of winter cold-blooded and tremendous flowering . The seedling ' Okame ' result from fertilizing the female flower of a Fuji cherry tree ( Prunus incisa ) with the pollen from a Taiwan cherry ( Cerasus campanulata ) .
Sources in the 20th century published the botanical name as Prunus x incisa ' Okame ' . This name is considered synonymous with , but is not prefer to , the modern name of Prunus ' Okame ' .
Mature Form and Height
When new , the Okame cherry tree has an upright , vase - corresponding human body . As the tree diagram matures , the overall descriptor of the minor tree becomes more rounded . This cerise will grow to a maximal height of 20 to 30 feet , with a canopy spread of 12 to 20 feet .
Seasonal Interest
The resplendency of the Okame cherry is the copiousness of rosy pinkish flowers in late winter and early spring . It is often regarded as the first cherry red tree to blossom in the landscape painting , often flirt with subfreezing late winter temperatures as the flowers receptive . The flowers have five petals and are attractive as pollen and nectar sources for bees . Although the flowers are pink , there are casting of reddish come up or lavender when the blooms are pick up en masse shot on the branch . The flowering time of year live on two to three weeks .
After flowering , the deep green foliation appears and extends into autumn . In red-hot , long summers , the foliage often becomes bronzed , more so if atmospheric condition are teetotal . As fall weather brings sunshine with nerveless night temperatures , the foliage change by reversal an attractive bronze - orange to orange - redness .
The barque of the Okame cherry is in particular interesting in wintertime with the foliage absent . The pale rust - tan or gray , smooth barque has horizontal bar of lenticels , or small spot hollow , on it , and the satiny sheen of the bark reflects calorie-free .
Growing Requirements
The Okame cherry is well suited to USDA Winter Hardiness zone 5 through 8 . A chilly winter is required for the cherry to initiate flower buds the following leaping . Plant ' Okame ' in a full Lord’s Day to fond tone exposure , so that it meet at least four to six hour of direct sunshine , the more sun the well for flowering and a undifferentiated tree shape . In red-hot climates , take place this tree where it will receive shade in the hot part of the summertime afternoon .
Ideally , the stain for this cherry should be fertile and well - draining but moist . It prove a good permissiveness for sandy , loam and heavy stiff soils and will handle drought at the disbursement of its leaf , which will dry and unload prematurely if the soil is too teetotal . Ensure soils are damp for the good public presentation of this tree diagram perennially .
rank a large-minded swath of organic mulch under the Okame cherry will benefit the plant , hold land moisture , deter locoweed and keeping stain temperatures moderate in all season .
Garden Use
The small fledged sizing of the Okame cherry lends it to use in a all-encompassing raiment of garden applications , even in the smaller distance coarse in most urban yard . Michael Dirr , note plant expert of the University of Georgia , writes that this small-scale tree is both stunning as a lonesome specimen and planted in small decorative groves of three or five . It is a lovely tree to apply to trace an avenue . Planting this tree in front of a disconsolate - colored structure or hedgerow of dark evergreens accentuates the pink blossoming display .
Since this cherry bloom so too soon , its efflorescence and efflorescence buds are susceptible to frost and freeze damage . Situating this tree diagram in a position that remains nerveless in wintertime may help check the appearance of flower , to deflect the encounter with awkward previous Robert Frost in February and March . However , a protect microclimate on the southwest side of a building or evergreen orchard can lead to even earlier flowering in mid- to previous winter .
