Prunus japonica Thunb.

This shrub is allied to P.glandulosa but differs in its ovate, acuminate, sharply double-toothed leaves. It is a native of China but named from a Japanese garden plant. A form with pink, semi-double flowers was in cultivation early in the 19th century and is figured in Bot. Mag., t. 2176, and Bot. Reg., t. 27. It was found more difficult to cultivate than P. glandulosa ‘Rosea Plena’ (‘Sinensis’) and probably soon dropped out of cultivation. The species is more subject to die-back than P. glandulosa in the British climate and no more ornamental (Ingram, Orn. Cherries, p. 175).In P. japonica var. nakaii (Lévi.) Rehd., the leaves are downy beneath. This was introduced by Wilson from Korea in 1918 (W.10596).