Prunus x yedoensis 'Akebono'

 

Photographed at Vancouver City Hall, April 1st, 2021

 

“A medium sized tree growing 8 m × 8 m (25 ft) with a stiff, upright-spreading crown, eventually becoming umbrella shaped. ‘Akebono’ flowers in late March or early April, usually following the purple-leaf plums by about a week. Flowers are produced abundantly, shell-pink fading to nearly white. ‘Akebono’ is a seedling of Prunus yedoensis ‘Somei-yoshino’ (Tokyo cherry) selected in 1925 at a California nursery. ‘Akebono’ is by far the most commonly planted early spring flowering cherry in this area, and is celebrated for its essentially rainproof flowers and freedom from disease. Autumn colour is yellow to pumpkin orange.”
(Source: Cherry Cultivars.)

Photographed at Queen Elizabeth Park, April 10th, 2021

Prunus x yedoensis 'Somei-yoshino'

 

Photographed at Douglas Park, April 5th, 2021

 

“An uncommon tree in Vancouver, except in a few parks and on selected streets, such as the Cambie Heritage Boulevard, and at UBC, where it is relatively common. The seed parent of ‘Akebono’ to which it closely resembles, but its late March or early April flowers are slightly smaller and paler upon emergence. ‘Somei-yoshino’ is the famous Tokyo cherry of hanami (cherry blossom viewing) festivals in Japan. Older specimens of Tokyo cherry are distinctively umbrella shaped, with few sturdy branches.”
(Source: Cherry Cultivars)