Prunus cerasus L.

---

'Dumosa'

When budded or grafted on low standards, this makes a dwarf, round-headed tree, profuse in flower, and of very slow growth. A charming tree for a small lawn, where it may stand for many years and cause no inconvenience by overgowing. It is figured in Garden, Vol. 78, p. 201.It is possible that this variety is really the same as ‘Globosa’ (‘Umbraculifera’), which was put into commerce by Späth in the 1880s.

---

P × gondouinii (Poiteau & Turpin) Rehd.

P. × gondouinii appears to be the correct name for hybrids between P. cerasus and P. avium. Here belong the Duke cherries. An ornamental cherry known as ‘Schnee’, cultivated in Germany and Holland, is considered by Dr Boom to be a hybrid of this parentage (Dendroflora, No. 3 (1966), p. 14; figured in op. cit., No. 1, p. 18).

---

'Persiciflora'

Flowers double, pink. Known since the 17th century.

---

'Rhexii'

Flowers pure white, 1{1/2} in. across, very double, with stalks almost twice as long as in the type, but not so pendulous as in P. avium ‘Plena’. It is scarcely so fine as that variety, and is subject to brown rot.

---

'Salicifolia'

Leaves long and narrow, 4 to 6 in. long, about one-fourth as wide, coarsely and doubly toothed. A distinct variety with single flowers.

---

'Semiplena'

Flowers semi-double, with normal carpels and occasionally producing fruit. The P. cerasus var. plena of Linnaeus is probably this variety and not ‘Rhexii’.

---

'Semperflorens' All Saints' Cherry

This remarkable variety has been cultivated in gardens since the 18th century, but its origin is not known. It is usually grafted on standards of cherry, and thus makes a small, very elegant round-headed tree, with pendent, slender branches and curiously clustered twigs, which in the leafless state render it easily distinguishable. The most interesting and attractive thing about it is its method of flowering. It bears a small crop of blossom in April when in ordinary leafless condition, and in ordinary clusters; it then goes out of flower until the new shoots are a few inches long (early June), when it commences to blossom again, and continues to do so until September. These second flowers, however, are produced singly from the leaf-axils, and from the ends of the young leaf-bearing shoots. This variety in reality produces during the growing season the flowers which ought normally to be (and are in other cherries) produced simultaneously the following spring. By the time the later flowers are open the earlier ones have developed fruit, which is acid, but pleasantly flavoured. An interesting and attractive lawn tree.

---

var. austera L

Fruits dark coloured and with a dark juice. Trees usually of rather pendulous habit. These are the Morello cherries.

---

var. caproniana L.

Fruits lighter red than in the Morellos, with a colourless juice. Trees usually erect branched, round-headed. Here belong the Amarelle cherries, of which the Kentish Red cherries are a local race.

---

var. frutescens Neilr.

Of shrubby, suckering habit. Fruits dark red. Various orchard varieties cultivated in the Soviet Union belong here; also the old variety known as ’ Ostheim’. It is said to be naturalised in parts of Central Europe.

---

var. marasca (Host) Viv.

A vigorous tree whose fruits are employed in the manufacture of the famous Maraschino liqueur in Dalmatia, especially around the town of Zadar (Zara).The cherries deriving from P. cerasus are self-fertile and will therefore fruit even if only a single specimen is grown. The Morello cherry fruits well on a north wall.The following varieties are distinguished by their flowers, habit, or foliage