Yamazakura, or wild mountain cherry trees, are native Japanese species that differ significantly from the cultivated Somei Yoshino cherries commonly seen in cities. The Yamazakura produces both flowers and reddish-brown leaves simultaneously, creating a distinctive pink and bronze color combination rather than pure white or pink blooms. These trees grow naturally in mountainous regions, are longer-lived than cultivated varieties, and offer a more rustic, natural aesthetic that has been celebrated in Japanese culture for centuries.
