16. Prunus sargentii – Sargent Cherry
Scientific Name: Prunus sargentii
Nativity: Asia
Interesting Info:
This tree was named after Charles S. Sargent, the first director of Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum. He was the first westerner to discover this specific species in the mountains of northern Japan in the late 1800’s. However, the wood has been used by the Japanese for years prior. Dye has also be traditionally extracted from the leaves and fruit. The seeds are thought to contain cyanide when they are bitter, so the fruit is considered mostly inedible. This is a very common trait for species of the rose family.
DBH: 1.5 inches