The largest flowering ornamental cherry, producing a brilliant display of rose-pink blossoms in spring and fiery orange-scarlet foliage in autumn. Introduced c.1893.

Native to Japan, Korea and the far east of Russia.

Monoecious, hermaphrodite flowers.

Medium (20m) with a wide spreading crown (12–15m), typically with a short trunk. Flowers 3–4cm, single. One of few flowering cherries that produces some fruits, 1cm on long stalks, variously yellow, orange, red or purple.

Unsuitable for small gardens. Usually grafted on Wild Cherry rootstocks, and planted as a cultivar of some variety: ‘Accolade'’ h semi-double flowers, ‘Charles Sargent’ flushes with red foliage, ‘Spire’ is fastigiate, ‘Rancho’ has deep saturated colours.

No notable associations where introduced.

Generally healthy.

Ornamental.