Species of Japan - Somei Yoshino Cherry Blossom 染井吉野 ソメイヨシノ (Prunus yedoensis)

Somei Yoshino or Yoshino cherry 染井吉野 ソメイヨシノ (Prunus yedoensis), this tree is a hybrid from Japan, and it is the most popular, widely planted Cherry blossoming tree in Japan and around the world. Even during my annual Hokkaido photo tour, I can spot and photograph these celestial, zen, calming sakura as part of a blended photography and shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing experience. Somei Yoshino is a clone from a single tree and is propagated by grafting. Somei village, as it was known in the Edo period, is now known as Toshima and is the birthplace of the Somei Yoshino cherry blossom tree, which is a village located in Oshima sub-prefecture Tokyo. During the Edo period, Somei village was a center for plant nurseries; today, the region is one of eight central wards of the Tokyo metropolitan area. In the Kanto region, excessive pesticides are used to deal with the caterpillars and other insects that infest the trees. As a result of the pesticide use, the Eurasian Tree sparrow population has declined by 90% in urban and metropolitan areas. Along the Sea of Japan, from Niigata to Hokkaido going north, the pesticide is not as heavily used, so less than half the sparrow population has been affected. The sparrows can be found in large numbers eating the insect and insect larvae as well as indulging in the sweet, succulent nectar of the sakura bloom. The Somei Yoshino cherry blossom tree is a small, deciduous tree that grows to be 5 to 12 meters (16 – 39 ft) (rarely 15 meters (49 ft)) tall at maturity. It grows well in hardiness zones 5 – 8, which encompasses most of Japan, and does well in full sun and moist but well-drained soil; the cherry blossom trees are often bronze-toned when newly emerged, becoming dark green by summer. I have one of the Somei Yoshino trees in my backyard, and it measures 15 meters, a rare tree indeed.