Prunus cyclamina facts for kids

The cyclamin cherry (or cyclamen cherry), also known as Prunus cyclamina, is a beautiful type of flowering cherry tree. It is native to China, where it grows high up in the mountains, usually between 1,000 and 1,300 meters above sea level. This tree is special because its pale pink flowers bloom early in the spring and last longer than many other cherry blossoms. Because of its lovely flowers, it is a great choice for gardens and parks. For example, two cyclamin cherry trees at the Arnold Arboretum in Massachusetts have grown well for many years. They have not shown signs of common tree diseases like nematodes, viruses, or black knot. This shows how strong and healthy this cherry tree can be.

What the Cyclamin Cherry Looks Like

The cyclamin cherry is a strong tree that usually grows to be about 5 to 10 meters (16 to 33 feet) tall. Its bark is a dark purplish-brown color and has small, raised spots called lenticels. These spots help the tree breathe.

Leaves and Flowers

When new leaves grow in the spring, they have a pretty bronze color. The leaves are shaped like an oval or a wide ellipse. They are usually 4.5 to 12 centimeters (1.8 to 4.7 inches) long and 2.7 to 5.5 centimeters (1.1 to 2.2 inches) wide. The edges of the leaves are serrated, meaning they have small teeth. The top side of the leaf is a darker green, while the underside is smooth.

The flowers of the cyclamin cherry are very attractive. Each flower is quite large, about 3 to 6 centimeters (1.2 to 2.4 inches) wide. They have around 32 stamens, which are the parts of the flower that produce pollen. The deep pink outer parts of the flower, called calyxes, look a bit like the flowers of a cyclamen plant. This is how the cyclamin cherry got its name.

Fruit

After the flowers bloom, the tree produces small, round fruits called drupes. These fruits are purplish-red and are about 7.5 to 8.3 millimeters (0.3 inches) across. They have a small amount of tasty flesh inside. Birds really enjoy eating these fruits.

Where the Cyclamin Cherry Grows

The cyclamin cherry is found in several provinces in China. These include Guangdong, Guangxi, Hubei, Hunan, and Sichuan provinces.

Types of Cyclamin Cherry

There are two main types, or varieties, of the cyclamin cherry:

• Prunus cyclamina var. cyclamina: This is the more common type of the tree. It usually has groups of 3 to 4 flowers.
• Prunus cyclamina var. biflora: This type is known for having groups of only two flowers.