Local Plants: Yamazakura (Mountain cherry; Cerasus jamasakura)
Yamazakura grow in the forests of mountainous regions to a height of 15 to 25 meters. Their oval leaves are finely serrated, tapering to a point at the tip. At the beginning of April, reddish-brown new leaves and light red or white flowers simultaneously appear, followed by a small round fruit that ripens to a purplish black color. Like the Somei Yoshino cherry, the most widespread sakura variety in Japan, yamazakura trees bloom around the same time, but not in one simultaneous burst: some trees are slightly early, others a little late.