Prunus Okame - Cherry

Prunus 'Okame' is a bushy flowering cherry tree from Japan that is particularly floriferous. This old horticultural hybrid, resulting from the cross-breeding of two botanical species, possesses the strength of minimally cultivated plants and concentrates the extraordinary flowering of its two parents. When young, it forms a dense bush and eventually becomes a small, highly ornamental tree that beautifully heralds the return of spring. In early spring, a multitude of bell-shaped flowers, with bright carmine pink petals and yellow stamens, open in succession, forming generous pendulous clusters. Its foliage, which emerges after the flowering, takes on beautiful autumn colours, and in winter, its lustrous bark is revealed in a rich burgundy hue.

Prunus 'Okame', from the large family of Rosaceae, is the result of a cross-breeding between Prunus campanulata, native to Taiwan and with almost red campanulate flowers, and Prunus incisa with its abundant white-pink flowering, spontaneously found on the slopes of Mount Fuji in Japan.

'Okame', having a rather slow growth, shows a bushy and rounded habit for about ten years, reaching a height of 2.50m (8ft 2in) and a width of 2m (6ft 7in). It then grows taller, revealing a short trunk topped by a gracefully spreading crown. Eventually, it will reach a height of 4m (13ft 1in) and a spread of 3m (9ft 10in). The bark covering the trunk is smooth and glossy, with a dark brown-red colour. Before the foliage appears, in March or April depending on the region, a profusion of small campanulate and lightly scented flowers, measuring 2 to 2.5cm (0.8 to 1in) in diameter, open in a vibrant carmine pink colour. The deciduous foliage appears after the flowering. The leaves are bronze when they emerge, green in summer, and turn red-orange in autumn. They are entire, lanceolate, measure 3 to 6cm (1.2 to 2.4in) in length, and have finely dentate margins.

Its twisted form, created by sinuous branches, makes the flowering cherry tree suitable for bonsai cultivation. With its slow growth, this small tree, a symbol of renewal, is suitable for small gardens as well as for container cultivation on a terrace. It can be planted in borders or as a standalone specimen, in hedges, and also in rows. 'Okame', being undemanding, thrives in ordinary soil as long as it is sufficiently deep, tolerates heat and the presence of limestone in the soil. It can be cultivated in most regions, from north to south. For example, in a hedge or border, it can be associated with other spring-flowering shrubs, either simultaneous or staggered, such as ornamental apple trees, flowering peaches, Chinese almond trees, hawthorns, and more.