A Rare Beauty in Bloom – Prunus ‘Japanese Lantern™’

Unique Sport of Prunus ‘Japanese Lantern™’ Scoops Three Awards and a Gold medal at HTA National Plant Show

Newly released Prunus ‘Japanese Lantern™’ has wowed the industry as Frank P Matthews finally brings this incredible tree to market after it first being discovered in Japan, 1990. 

The expert panel of judges referred to the tree as “outstanding”, describing the colour change of the petals as “like no other, the flowers are just so full!”  

To add to this string of awards, Prunus ‘Japanese Lantern™’ also won people’s choice. Everyone who visits the show is handed a token where they can slot it into a box and cast their vote for their favourite best of categories. The Prunus was up against some stiff competition with gorgeous chocolate dahlias and incredible hostas, so thank thank thank you to everyone who voted!

‘Japanese Lantern™’ is a true reminder of how incredibly wonderful Mother Nature is as this sport of Prunus ‘Fugenzo’ appeared among the cherry trees of Suma-ura Park in Kobe, Japan, in 1990 as a natural sport with zero human breeding intervention. 

The tree has been with us in the trial gardens for over 7 years and what a joy it has been to watch and observe this spectacular thing of beauty with flower characteristics unlike anything seen before in the world of ornamental cherries.

While the tree shares the same flowering time and graceful, spreading shape as its parent, Prunus ‘Fugenzo’, this new variety sets itself apart with flowers of astonishing beauty and complexity. The blooms emerge a soft yellow-green or creamy white, gradually turning shades of pink as they age, creating a gentle, almost ethereal transformation through the flowering season. Held in hanging clusters of five, each double flower contains more than 30 silky, tissue-like petals that unfurl like delicate Japanese paper lanterns which gives it its full name Prunus ‘Samaura Fugenzo Japanese Lantern™’.

While the tree shares the same flowering time and graceful, spreading shape as its parent, Prunus ‘Fugenzo’, this new variety sets itself apart with flowers of astonishing beauty and complexity. The blooms emerge a soft yellow-green or creamy white, gradually turning shades of pink as they age, creating a gentle, almost ethereal transformation through the flowering season. Held in hanging clusters of five, each double flower contains more than 30 silky, tissue-like petals that unfurl like delicate Japanese paper lanterns which gives it its full name Prunus ‘Samaura Fugenzo Japanese Lantern™’.

Adding to their charm, the blooms display two small, leaf-like pistils at their centre, an unusual and enchanting feature that elevates this tree’s ornamental value even further. As the flowers emerge in early spring, they are accompanied by young copper-hued leaves, which mature to a fresh green before turning warm shades of orange in autumn, extending the tree’s visual interest well beyond the flowering season.

This exceptional cherry tree forms a medium-sized specimen with a naturally elegant, spreading habit, making it an ideal focal point in both traditional and modern garden settings. Beyond its beauty, it also offers practical advantages: it has shown no observed susceptibility to blackfly aphids, exhibits good frost tolerance, and displays a strong resistance to bacterial blossom and foliage infections making it as reliable as it is spectacular.

“This tree is a treasure , it’s rare to find such distinctive ornamental character combined with garden resilience,” says Nick Dunn, Third Generation at Frank P Matthews. “Its flowers don’t just bloom, they perform, evolving in colour and form like a slow-moving firework display.”

Japanese Lantern™ will be available to purchase from 1st July 2025 and will appeal not only to lovers of Japanese cherry blossom but to all those seeking a truly exceptional specimen tree for their garden. Imagine seeing that from your kitchen window every day!