Identification: Rancho - early mid season, single pink blossoms, upright, reddish leaves

[wcutler]

This is not a question, but comments are welcome. Rancho cherries are tall narrow trees with strongly upright branches. Mottled dark pink blossoms have five petals, and the bud scales are sticky to the touch. The very reddish leaves start to come out when the flowers appear, around the same time as Akebonos.

[Ron B]

Upright form of Sargent cherry, of uncertain distinction from 'Columnaris'. Columnar seedlings have also been selected and sold as the typical plant, without distinguishing cultivar names. Therefore, only plantings with labels or planting records specifying these were acquired as 'Rancho' should be so-called.

[wcutler]

Here are some Rancho autumn colours (and bark). These trees are near the theatre in the park, near the Pavillion.


The Ranchos near the tennis court looked orange from above but yellow from the other side. There was quite a range of leaf colours on the ground.

[wcutler]

Here's the description from Ornamental Cherries of Vancouver, by UBCBG's Douglas Justice.