Southernmost Area of Wild Higan Cherry Blossoms

The Southern Limit of Wild Edohigan Cherries

The Southernmost Area of Wild Higan Cherry Blossoms (ヒガンザクラ自生南限地) is the southern limit of wild Higan cherries, or Edohigan, on the slopes of Mount Kurino in Yusui Town, Aira District, Kagoshima Prefecture, which in 1923 was designated a Natural Monument.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs lists it under the criterion for notable limits of plant distribution. The designation text notes many Higan cherries on the slopes of Mount Kurino, remarkable as the southern limit of the species.

The Kagoshima Prefectural Museum explains that although designated as Higan cherry, the tree is correctly Edohigan.

The Habitat

Yusui Town places the site in mixed woodland halfway up Mount Kurino, about 9 kilometres east-southeast of Yoshimatsu Station. Edohigan grows wild from central Honshu westward, and this is its southern limit; the stand was found in the early Taisho years.

The town notes leaves smaller and rounder than those of the mountain cherry, grey bark with dark brown spots that splits vertically, and pink or white flowers.

What to Look For

The prefectural museum describes Edohigan as about 10 metres tall, flowering pale pink before the leaves in late March, around the spring equinox (higan), hence the name. Yusui Town gives the flowering season as late March to early April.

Edohigan blossoms among the mixed woodland on the mountainside are the highlight of this Natural Monument.

Visiting the Southernmost Area of Wild Higan Cherry Blossoms

Yusui Town notes that the site is within national forest. No official information on visiting conditions could be found.

As a Natural Monument, branches and flowers must not be picked. Enquiries: Yusui Town lifelong learning section, 0995-75-2142.