Prunus ‘Ichiyo’ (23/04/2016, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun
Flowering period: Spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 8m
Eventual Spread: 8m
Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a
Family:Rosaceae
Prunus ‘Ichiyo’ Flower (23/04/2016, Kew Gardens, London)
Prunus ‘Ichiyo’ is a deciduous tree with a vase shaped habit. Its dark green leaves are elliptic with serrate margins, up to 10cm long and 6cm broad. Its leaves are bronze when they emerge and turn orange/ red before they fall in autumn. Its pale pink flowers are double, up to 45mm across and appear at the same time as the leaves and borne in pendulous clusters.
Prunus ‘Ichiyo’ Leaf (23/04/2016, Kew Gardens, London)
Prunus ‘Ichiyo’ originates from Japan and was introduced by Captain Collingwood Ingram (1880 – 1981).
The etymological root of the binomial name Prunus is from the classical name of the Plum tree. Ichiyo is derived from the Japanes meaning ‘one leaf’.
The landscape architect may find Prunus ‘Ichiyo’ useful as a small attractive spring flowering tree.
Prunus ‘Ichiyo’ Bark (23/04/2016, Kew Gardens, London)
Ecologically, Prunus ‘Ichiyo’ flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.
The Royal Horticultural Society have given Prunus ‘Ichiyo’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.
Prunus ‘Ichiyo’ prefers moist, fertile, deep, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Prunus ‘Ichiyo’ requires little maintenance. Pruning should be carried out after flowering, from April to July to minimise the risk of Silver leaf infection.
Landscape Architecture
