Great White Cherry Prunus 'Tai-haku'

Names

• Family

  Rosaceae

• Synonyms

  Great White Cherry

• Common names

  Prunus 'Tai-haku'.

Toxicity

• To humans

  The Prunus 'Tai-haku', commonly known as the Great White Cherry, contains components that can be toxic to humans if ingested. This plant, like many other members of the Prunus genus, contains cyanogenic glycosides, primarily in the leaves and seeds. If ingested, these compounds can release cyanide in the body. Symptoms of cyanide poisoning include headache, dizziness, confusion, weakness, difficulty breathing, and potentially fatal respiratory failure if consumed in significant amounts. It is important to avoid eating leaves, seeds, or any other potentially toxic parts of the Great White Cherry.

• To pets

  The Great White Cherry is also toxic to pets. As with humans, the toxicity comes from the cyanogenic glycosides found in the leaves and seeds of the plant. When pets ingest these parts of the Great White Cherry, their bodies can convert these glycosides into cyanide. The symptoms of cyanide poisoning in pets include salivation, difficulty breathing, panting, dilated pupils, and shock, which can lead to death if a significant amount is ingested. Therefore, it's important to prevent pets from chewing on or consuming parts of this plant.

Characteristics

• Life cycle

  Perennials

• Foliage type

  Deciduous

• Color of leaves

  Green

• Flower color

  White

• Height

  25 feet (7.62 meters)

• Spread

  20 feet (6.09 meters)

• Plant type

  Tree

• Hardiness zones

  5

• Native area

  Japan

General Benefits

• Aesthetic Appeal: The Great White Cherry, with its large white blooms, is a stunning ornamental tree that enhances the visual appeal of landscapes.
• Shade Provider: As it grows, the Great White Cherry's canopy offers a cool, shaded area in gardens and parks.
• Attracts Wildlife: Bees, butterflies, and birds are attracted to the blooms, which in turn help to pollinate the tree and promote biodiversity.
• Seasonal Interest: It has a striking presence throughout the seasons with its spring blossoms, summer foliage, fall color change, and bare winter branches.
• Cultural Significance: The Great White Cherry has strong cultural significance in Japan and is often associated with spring celebrations and festivals.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, it is relatively low maintenance, requiring minimal care aside from occasional pruning and watering during dry periods.

Medical Properties

This plant is not used for medical purposes.

Air-purifying Qualities

This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.

Other Uses

• The 'Tai-haku' cherry tree's wood can be used for creating fine woodworking projects, such as furniture or decorative objects due to its quality and grain.
• The blossoms of the cherry tree can be pickled and used in Japanese cuisine to create sakura tea or as an edible decoration on rice dishes.
• Dried cherry petals of the 'Tai-haku' can be incorporated into potpourri mixes to add a gentle, floral fragrance to a room.
• Artists may use the cherry blossoms and branches as subjects in traditional Japanese ink paintings, known as sumi-e, to capture their beauty and ephemeral nature.
• Photographers often seek out the 'Tai-haku' cherry tree as a stunning natural backdrop for portrait and wedding photography.
• The tree's blossoms can be used to make natural dyes for fabrics, giving them a soft pink hue that is derived from the petals.
• 'Tai-haku' cherry wood can be used to craft musical instruments like flutes or recorders, providing a unique tone and aesthetic.
• The cherry tree's pruned branches and twigs can be used in floral arrangements, especially in the art of Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement.
• Cultural festivals, such as hanami in Japan, utilize the beauty of the 'Tai-haku' cherry blossoms for celebration, where people gather to appreciate the flowering trees.
• The tree's blossoms are sometimes used in the creation of natural cosmetics, such as bath bombs or soaps, for their fragrance and skin-soothing properties.

Feng Shui

The Great White Cherry is not used in Feng Shui practice.

Zodiac Sign Compitability

The Great White Cherry is not used in astrology practice.

Plant Symbolism

• Renewal and New Beginnings: As a flowering cherry tree, the Great White Cherry often symbolizes spring and renewal because it is one of the first plants to bloom, heralding the end of winter.
• Beauty and Fragility of Life: Its blossoms, beautiful yet short-lived, remind us of the fleeting nature of life, encouraging us to cherish each moment.
• Purity: The pure white blossoms of the Great White Cherry can represent innocence and purity.
• Impermanence: Similar to other cherry blossoms, the Great White Cherry is often associated with the concept of impermanence, a common theme in Buddhist teachings that highlights the transient nature of all things.