This tree is no longer there. https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/burnaby.36481/page-4#post-310827
I love it when trees do that. That cultivar name was definitely a misnomer. The flowers were nice though.
Two 'Ito-kukuri' trees on 3777 Dubois Street. One tree is in full bloom, and other one starts blooming. April 12, 2026 Tao: added this photo to show "darker thread-like veins" on the petals. For the tree on the right side, I will wait for a couple of days and go back to take more photos to see if it is 'Ito-kukuri' or other cultivar. April 13, 2026 Tao: Went to location, the tree on the right has a lot of flowers on it. I measured the flower size, it is 5cm diameter, the stem length(between bract and sepals), it is 6cm. The flower also has darker thread-like veins on the petals. I think it is 'Pink Perfection'. It is double pale pink with white center, long pendulous, cured sepals, darker thread-like veins on the petals. The 'Pink Perfection' at the Community Rotunda of Burnaby has the same features(I also did measurement there).
It is likely that these trees are part of an initiative begun in 2011, which was a collaboration between UBC Botanical Garden and the biotechnology program at BCIT. Keith Turner, instructor in the biotechnology program and his students worked with 'Ito-kukuri' in their tissue culture laboratory (at the UBC BG Nursery we tried in vain for several years to root cuttings). By 2013, small micropropagated trees were released at a BCIT fund-raiser. It would be interesting to find out if the homeowner was there at the sale.
Director Justice, Thank you for the information. I will ask the homeowner about it if I see the owner for my next visit to this location, will let you know. Tao
Six 'Kanzan' trees with coppery birch bark trunk on Sardis Crescent at Grafton Street. April 16, 2026 Tao:
Director Justice, I went to the location around 7pm since tomorrow is going to rain. I took more photos about flowers and did some measurement. The homeowner came out to talk to me after he saw I measured the flower. He is a nice, and kind man. He told me he bought these two trees from BCIT more than 10 years ago. He has a friend who works at BCIT Biotechnology Department told him they had worked with UBC on some trees which were disappearing, and these two trees were reproduced from their cuts and are rare cultivars. So, I said "Would it be in year 2013 at BCIT fund raiser?", he said it is about right. He was there. He cannot remember names of trees, but is going to ask his friend about names and then put label on the trees. What kind of man he is. These two trees are not only healthy, good looking, but also a great success story! Tao
Community Rotunda of Burnaby: Two 'Shirotae' trees are in full bloom, very beautiful. Two 'Pink Perfection' trees are blooming nicely. I measured the flower size, it is 5cm diameter, stem length(between bract and sepals), it is 6cm. From this photo, you can see the darker thread-like veins on the petals.
You can also see the vexillate filaments (little flags on top of the stamens), which are supposed to distinguish these flowers from 'Kanzan' flowers, as if the unlikelihood of these trees to ever form a canopy over any street were not enough to distinguish the trees.
Visitor parking area of the building on 6451 Telford Avenue: 7 'Kanzan' trees and 2 'Shiro-fugen' trees
Beautiful 'Shiro-fugen' trees on Whitsell Avenue are blooming nicely. There are a couple of 'Kanzan' trees on the street too.
