[edited by wcutler 20110420: this was posted by Dingren and Martin in the Richmond blog. I've replied that it's not 'Takasago', would like help figuring out if it's 'Ito-kukuri', and additionally, if it's one cultivar or two different ones. A similar set of trees was posted in Takasago with no hairs? Double pinky-white, late season. And here's another one I can't distinguish: Edo-zakura - Late double pinky-white, short stems. And here's one we decided was 'Ito-kukuri' in Victoria-Fraserview.] We saw four takasago trees, two on the lot of "'work Safe BC" on Westminster Highway and the third on 6191 Azure (intersect Mara) and the fourth on 6259 Azure. The first one, visible on Westminster (photo #3) is about 20% open; the other tree further inside the drive way is smaller and is about 60% open (photo #6). The tree on 6191 Azure (photo #5) is about 50% open. The tree on 6259 Azure has the best shape but is just beginning to flower (photo #7). Although there are some lichens and mosses on the branches, they are all in apparent good health. Map Link
Re: Richmond Ichyo After taking a closer look at the trees that we posted on 4/19, we quickly agreed that none of them was Takasago, because the flowers are much larger and are composed of more than 20 petals. The flower buds are pink, not as dark as those of Takasaso and they bore no hair on the stems and leaves. The ones on 6191 and 6259 Azure Road are should be Ichiyo, as we observed all the characteristics described in the VCBF ‘s book. We counted 22 petals on the flowers from both trees. Map Link
Re: Richmond Ito-kukuri We are not as sure about the two on Work Safe BC lot on Westminster Highway. The photos taken on 4/19 remarkably resemble the picture on p.43 of the book and the one you took last year. The flowers are 5 to 6cm in diameter, open not as flat as Ichiyo and petal clusters are somewhat fluffy, wavy. We counted 25 and 26 petals on each of the flowers from each tree. The petals are broad, especially the ones on the outer rim. But we are not too sure about ragged edged and prominent, darker thread-like veins. Of all the pictures that we can compare with, Ito-kukuri appear to be the closest one. Map Link
Re: Richmond I think your second-to-last photo definitely shows ragged edges and veining. Re: the Ichiyo posting, the tree shape is good for that. It should have a lot of flowers with one phylloid (green leafy) pistil in the flower centres if it's 'Ichiyo', not so evident in the postings here.
Wendy is right. The trees in the WorkSafe BC parking lot are 'Ito-kukuri'. The trees on Azure Road are 'Ichiyo'.
