Commonly misnamed in Australia as Prunus 'Shimidsu Sakura'.
Somewhere in the history of recording flowering cherries the highly prized P. 'Shogetsu' was misnamed as P. 'Shimidsu Sakura'. While the naming is not precise the plant itself is unmistakable. It is a superb, late flowering ornamental cherry.
The tree is umbrella shaped, flattened at the top. Large and showy, loosely hanging flower clusters (corymbs) up to 15cm long, each with 3 to 6 flowers beginning as light pink buds becoming pure white when fully open. Mature specimens may reach approx. 8m tall by 8m wide.
The word shōgetsu translates as "moonlight on the pine trees", surely a fitting name for such a superb plant.
Kuitert, W with Peterse, A (1999) Japanese Flowering Cherries. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon
Image accessed 21/4/20
