Yaezakura cherry blossoms have petals overlapping in many layers.
重(じゅう)is the counter used in modern Japanese for layers (二重, 三重), while 重(え)is the older reading found in the traditional hito-futa-mi numeral series and fixed words like 八重.
重 read じゅう is the modern counter for '-fold' (三重, さんじゅう), while the same kanji read え is the older native reading used in words like 八重 (やえ, eightfold).
ninefold; nine-layered; many-layered · imperial palace; the Court
eightfold; octuple · multilayered; doubled; double-flowered
repeatedly; over and over again · in many layers; layer upon layer; row upon row
habutae silk; fine Japanese silk
multiple layers; piling up
one layer; single layer · monopetalous · unlined kimono · single-edged eyelid; eyelid without a crease
sevenfold; seven-ply
fivefold; quintuple; five-storied
Standard kanji spelling for this suffix/counter.
The reading え is the native Japanese (kun'yomi) reading of 重, used in the traditional counting system. Its exact historical derivation is uncertain.
tenfold; ten layers
many layers; many piles
piling up highly; becoming a large pile
many-fold; multiple layers
bent back; stooping back
hidden double eyelid
stolzite