Prunus serrulata
ornamental cherry

‘Mt. Fuji’ cherry blossoms in the Quad’s Oregon Courtyard. Sairus Patel, 23 Mar 2021

In the Quad’s Oregon Courtyard, Mt. Fuji cherries, past peak bloom, leaf out rapidly at the start of spring quarter. Blossoms on the taller columnar ‘Amanogawa’ behind them are just emerging. Sairus Patel, 31 Mar 2017

Following the 17 October 1989 earthquake, ornamental cherry varieties ‘Amanogawa’ and ‘Mt. Fuji’ (‘Shirotae’) donated by the Gifu Cherry Blossom Association were planted in the Oregon Courtyard (outer southeast Main Quad) in recognition of support from Stanford alumni and friends from the state of Oregon. Four ‘Mt. Fuji’ encircle the benches. Six more columnar ‘Amanogawa’, which bloom reliably later, surround them. At the beginning of April, 2017, the ‘Amanogawa’ were observed to be ramping up towards full bloom while the ‘Mt. Fuji’ had started leafing out, their flowers fast fading.

Members of the Gifu Cherry Blossoms Group at the dedication of the newly landscaped Oregon Courtyard. Cathy Blake, 16 Apr 2000

Newly landscaped Oregon Courtyard on the day of its dedication. Cathy Blake, 16 Apr 2000

Another cultivar, ‘Kwanzan’, can be seen on the north side of Braun Music Center and around Ventura Hall. One can also be found in the center of the relocated Amy Blue Memorial Garden, which is to the rear of Memorial Church, behind Building 60. A matching specimen is on the other side of the rear of the church.

‘Shogetsu’ was seen in the original location of the Amy Blue Memorial Garden in the Serra Complex, between buildings 651 and 655 on Serra Street, before the complex was demolished in 2008 to prepare for the building of the Knight Management Center.

Prunus serrulata ‘Mt. Fuji’ in the Oregon Courtyard. John Rawlings, 16 Apr 2004

Prunus serrulata ‘Kwanzan’, rear of Memorial Church, behind Building 60, before the Amy Blue Memorial Garden was relocated to that spot. John Rawlings, 7 Dec 2003

Name derivation: Prunus – Latin name for the plum tree; serrulata – with small teeth (the leaves).