The Kushima-Zakura Cherry Tree at Omura Shrine

The Kushima-Zakura Cherry Tree at Omura Shrine

The Kushima-zakura (Cerasus serrulata ‘Kusimana’) tree was discovered on the grounds of Omura Shrine in 1947.
It is a variety of Sato-zakura, a double-petaled cultivar group of cherries.
The flowers are slightly smaller than those of the Omura-zakura, the other rare cherry variety discovered near Omura Shrine.
It is unusual in that around half the flowers blooms in two stages, with a small inner flower that blooms slightly later than the main outer flower.
Each Kushima-zakura flower typically has around 45 petals and a diameter of 4.5 centimeters at full bloom.

The Kushima-zakura variety was also identified by botanist and schoolteacher Toyama Saburo (1902–1986) on the grounds of Omura Shrine within Omura Park.
Toyama had identified the Omura-zakura (Cerasus serrulata ‘Mirabilis’) cherry blossom six years earlier.
An estimated 200 Kushima-zakura trees grow in Omura Park, all propagated from the original tree.
There is a cherry blossom-viewing festival at the park between late March and early April.
The Kushima-zakura tree is a Natural Monument of Nagasaki Prefecture.