Kanzan

Kanzan is one of the classic Japanese flowering cherries – easily recognised by its large size, upright vase-shaped vigorous growth, and the mass of deep pink flowers.

Japanese flowering cherries are often categorised by the number of petals which form the flower, and Kanzan is a typical “double-flower”, meaning the flowers have between 25-50 petals. The more petals the more intense the blossom will be, and this is perhaps the main reason for Kanzan’s popularity – its flowers can have 8-10 times more petals than the simpler single-flowered forms, giving it a much more profuse blossom display.

The new leaves appear at the same time as the blossom, and are initially a coppery-bronze colour. They take on orange and red tints in the autumn.

Kanzan is one of the most cold-hardy of the double-flowered ornamental cherries, and a good choice for gardeners in northern Europe.