Prunus Amanogawa Japanese Flowering Cherry

Prunus Amanogawa, the Japanese Flowering Cherry or The Flagpole Cherry
Upright and narrow, this flowering Japanese cherry works well as an ornamental tree in all gardens. The British plant collector Ernest ‘Chinese’ Wilson first introduced the Prunus ‘Amanogawa’ to Europe in 1916. The small ornamental tree was dubbed ‘Amanogawa’ in Japanese which translates into ‘River in the Sky’. The moniker River in the Sky refers to the tree’s profusion of springtime blossoms that resemble the astronomical arrangement of the Milky Way. The Armanogawa is also commonly called the Japanese Flowering Cherry or the Flagpole Cherry tree. After its introduction, the Armanogawa quickly grew in popularity and was bestowed the Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1931. 
This Japanese cherry tree has a delicate appearance with an upright growth habit. Its canopy forms a column shape with extremely erect branches. The tree produces a canopy width of 2 to 5 meters. It is a relatively slow growing tree and usually takes around twenty years to reach a height of 5 meters. The tree’s petite size makes it a classic focal specimen for any garden. 
From mid-April to mid-May, the Armanogawa produces large clusters of shell-pink double blossoms that feature a pleasing fragrance. The flowers are delicate and can succumb to a late frost but the tree will suffer no harm if the mercury dips. Following flower production, the tree’s oval bronze leaves appear and quickly turn green. Each leaf measure 5 to 13 centimeters long and 2 to 7 centimeters wide with a serrated edge. In the autumn, the tree’s foliage turns brilliant hues of orange and red. 
The Armanogawa Cherry grows best in well-draining soil that contains ample organic material. Plant in full sunlight for best fall colours. When young, the tree usually benefits from staking to protect it from strong winds.