(Prunus yedoensis ‘Somei-yoshino’) (Tokyo cherry). 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.
