Japanese mountain cherry
Prunus jamasakura, family Rosaceae
In its own language: ヤマザクラ
Tall wild cherry tree of Japan with spring blossoms and edible fruit
The Japanese mountain cherry is a tall deciduous tree native to Japan’s low mountains and forests, also found in Korea and China. It is known for its spring blossoms, edible fruit, and valued wood and bark. The tree holds a place in Japanese poetry and the tradition of hanami, or flower viewing.
- Native to Japan’s low mountains and forests
- Central to the Japanese custom of hanami blossom viewing
- Wood and bark used in crafts and printing
- Fruit is edible and eaten by wildlife
- Classed as Least Concern but habitat is declining
What does Japanese mountain cherry look like?
Prunus jamasakura is a large, deciduous cherry tree that can reach 20 to 25 metres in height. It has smooth or slightly hairy bark and elliptic leaves with sharply serrated edges. The flowers appear in clusters or small groups, usually at the same time as the leaves, and are not described in detail in the sources. The fruit is a cherry, eaten by wildlife and people. The tree’s wood and bark are also valued.
Where does Japanese mountain cherry come from?
This cherry is native to Japan, especially the low mountains and secondary forests from the Kantō region through Shikoku and Kyūshū. Some sources also say it is native to Korea and China. The name yama-zakura means 'mountain cherry' in Japanese. The species was first named by Siebold in 1830, but formally described by Makino in 1908 and later recognized as a distinct species. Two varieties are known, one found on islands near Kyūshū.
When and how Japanese mountain cherry blooms
The Japanese mountain cherry blooms in spring, with flowers and leaves appearing together. It grows naturally in mountain forests and is also planted as an ornamental tree. The fruit ripens about two months after blossoming. The tree is grown from seed and valued for its wood, bark, and fruit. Black bears help spread its seeds by eating the ripe cherries.
How Japanese mountain cherry is used
In Japan, the mountain cherry is celebrated during hanami, the custom of viewing cherry blossoms. Its wood is used in crafts and printing, and the bark is used in traditional crafts like kabazaiku. In South Korea, it is planted for decoration and its wood is used for furniture and instruments. The fruit is edible, and the bark has medicinal uses.
Kinds of Japanese mountain cherry
There are two recognized varieties: Prunus jamasakura var. jamasakura, found widely in Japan, and Prunus jamasakura var. chikusiensis, which grows on islands around Kyūshū such as Tanegashima and Tsushima. The Tsukushi variety has smaller bracts and less pronounced leaf teeth.
What Japanese mountain cherry means
The mountain cherry has inspired Japanese poetry since the Man'yōshū era and is central to the tradition of hanami, or blossom viewing. Records of its flowering have been used to study historical climate. It is not considered threatened, but its habitat is declining. The tree is an important part of Japanese cultural identity.
Where Japanese mountain cherry is used and seen
Days and festivals
Questions people ask about Japanese mountain cherry
Where does the Japanese mountain cherry come from?
It is native to the low mountains and secondary forests of Japan, especially from the Kantō region to Shikoku and Kyūshū. Some sources also mention Korea and China as part of its native range.
What is the Japanese mountain cherry used for?
The tree is celebrated for its spring blossoms, used in the tradition of hanami. Its wood is used for crafts and printing, the bark for traditional crafts, and the fruit is edible. The bark also has medicinal uses.
What does the Japanese mountain cherry look like?
It is a tall deciduous tree, up to 25 metres high, with elliptic, sharply serrated leaves. The flowers appear in clusters alongside the leaves in spring, and the tree produces edible cherries.
Is the Japanese mountain cherry important in Japanese culture?
Yes, it has inspired poetry since ancient times and is central to hanami, the custom of viewing cherry blossoms. Its flowering has been recorded in historical diaries and used to study past climates.
Are there different varieties of Japanese mountain cherry?
Yes, two varieties are recognized: the widespread Prunus jamasakura var. jamasakura and Prunus jamasakura var. chikusiensis, found on islands near Kyūshū.
Good reading and sources
- IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesIUCN Red List, Article
- Prunus jamasakuraRoyal Horticultural Society, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
- Prunus jamasakura on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Prunus jamasakura", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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