Culture
Best grown in moist, moderately fertile, well-drained loams in full sun. Tolerates light shade, but best flowering is in full sun. Prune after flowering if necessary but generally requires little pruning.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Prunus is a genus of about 200 species of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs found in north temperate areas, the Andes of South America and in mountainous areas of Southeast Asia. Some are grown for their showy flowers, colorful foliage and/or attractive bark; and others for fruit, which includes cherry, plum, apricot, nectarine and peach.
Genus name from Latin means plum or cherry tree.
'Okame' was developed by Captain Collingwood Ingram of England using Prunus incisa as the female parent and Prunus campanulata as the male parent. His goal was to create a cherry that had the hot pink to carmine red flowers of P. campanulata but without its sensitivity to cold. 'Okame' is a small deciduous tree with an upright, rounded crown. It has 1 to 2.5 in. long, alternate, simple leaves that turn bronzy red to bright orange to red in fall in the colder zones of its range. Its polished reddish brown bark has prominent horizontal lenticels. Blooming earlier than other cherries, its mildly fragrant, 5-petaled, rosy pink flowers with red calyces and reddish flower stalks may be harmed by a late freeze. It grows 15 to 25 ft. tall and 15 to 20 ft. wide. 'Okame' is sometimes known as P. incamp 'Okame' (created by combining the species names of its parents).
Problems
Susceptible to a large number of insect and disease pests. Potential diseases include leaf spot, die back, leaf curl, powdery mildew, root rot and fireblight. Potential insects include aphids, scale, borers, leafhoppers, caterpillars, tent caterpillars and Japanese beetles. Spider mites may also be troublesome.
Uses
Flowering tree for the landscape. Specimen or small groups. Good selection for streets, parks or other public areas.