An upright cultivar of the Prunus serrulate, which was introduced to England by the famous plant collector Ernest Wilson in the early 1900s. He originally saw this “River of the Sky” planted along Arakawa river, where it was first cultivated back in 1830.

Its narrow pillar form provides options for the tightest of locations, only reaching 1m width at its most. The branches are tightly ascending, growing almost vertical to the trunk. In early spring the tree becomes drenched in large semi-double flowers that are a favourite for bees. The subtle shades of pink appear like an artist’s brush has stroked a lick of water wash paint on the landscape. The breeze carries their pleasant aroma of marzipan and almond. After the blossom, the leaves unfold a bronzed green with coppery hues. These become a lush green before displaying an autumn colour of orange and burgundy reds. It rarely produces any fruit.

A stunning tree perfect for bringing colour to tight urban locations that are dank with infrastructure. Its form can be used in designing landscape sculptures that are strikingly beautiful when used in everyday settings. On narrow public open spaces or green verges in housing developments, try planting a military line of a few Amanogawa.