Prunus × nudiflora

Prunus × nudiflora (king cherry, 왕벚 wangbeot, 왕벚나무 wangbeonnamu or 왕벚꽃 wangbeotkkot) is a Korean native cherry tree originating from Jeju Island. It is a distinct species from Japanese native Yoshino cherry. King cherry is a rare plant and listed as an endangered species. As of April 2017, 194 king cherry trees were growing around Mt. Halla in Jeju Island. According to Gen-ichi Koidzumi, king cherry is erroneously believed to be discovered by a French missionary Émile Joseph Taquet although what he discovered was a different species. There have been disputes over the origin of king cherry and Yoshino cherry. Both are suspected hybrids, with doubts about the parent species. In 2007, a study conducted on the comparison of king cherry and Yoshino cherry concluded that these trees were categorized as distinct species. However, South Korean media assert that king cherry is the same species as Yoshino cherry. In Korea most of the places for cherry blossom festivals, including Yeouido and Jinhae, are still planted with Japanese Yoshino cherry trees.