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Also known as 'Jugatsu-zakura', the autumn or winter-flowering cherry is a highlight in many winter gardens, when the bare branches sport flushes of semi-double blooms after every frost or whenever there is a mild spell. Pink while in bud, the blooms open clear white, with frilled petals and a sweet fragrance of almonds, making them popular for cutting in sprays during winter. Early flowers are without stalks but, as spring approaches, the display becomes more colourful and the blooms develop on long stalks. The leaves assume rich tints in autumn, and fall just before the first flowers open. The Royal Horticultural Society have given it their Award of Garden Merit (AGM).