Prunus 'Ukon', a very old variety, is a superior cherry amongst the greenish or cream-coloured forms. Ukon is the Japanese word for turmeric, the ground dried root of an Indian ginger plant, which imparts a yellow colour in curries. Although not as bright as the yellow of turmeric, the flowers of 'Ukon' are uniquely yellow.
P. 'Ukon' is a broad, vase-shaped tree to 8m high by 15m wide.
Green-yellow buds open to large, 5cm green-yellow to cream blooms in groups of four to five.
Foliage is bronze-green turning purplish-red in autumn.
Reference:
Kuitert, W with Peterse, A (1999) Japanese Flowering Cherries. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon
Image accessed 6/5/20
