Yoshino cherry tree

Description:

This is a hybrid cherry tree of unknown origin, probably between Prunus speciosa as father plant and Prunus pendula f. ascendens as mother. It is a small, deciduous tree that at maturity grows to 5-12 m (16–39 ft) (rarely 15 m or 49 ft) ) tall. The flowers emerge before the leaves in early spring; they are fragrant, 3 to 3.5 centimetres (1.2–1.4 in) in diameter, with five white or pale pink petals. The flowers grow in clusters of five or six together. In Japan, cherry blossoms symbolize clouds due to their nature of blooming en masse, besides being an enduring metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life, an aspect of Japanese cultural tradition that is often associated with Buddhistic influence

Habitat:

It occurs as a natural hybrid in Japan and is now one of the most popular and widely-planted cultivated flowering cherries in temperate climates worldwide. Seen in my yard.