Our flowering ornamental cherry trees (Prunus) are continuing to show their remarkable autumn colours of red, yellow and orange.
Described as the unofficial flower of Japan, the ornamental cherry tree has been celebrated for centuries.; particularly during spring when the blossom is prolific, this season is also known as Hanami. Festivals, parties and family gatherings are often seen where flowering cherry trees grow.
Flowering cherry trees are best known for their burst of showy blossom in the spring; some even produce small cherries in the summer. However, these small fruits are far too tart for most people, but they do appeal to a wide variety of birds. In addition to their spectacular spring blossom, they also provide year-round colour and interest with the highlight of the superb, stunning autumn colours. Flowering cherry trees are an excellent choice for many gardens, as they require very minimal care.
The majority of flowering cherry tree blossom is light pink to white, although some varieties display a deep pink blossom. Many buds are dark pink in infancy, gradually transforming to light pink and eventually pale pink or even white when they are fully open.
Many flowering cherry trees have a particularly fragrant blossom, some even ooze the fragrance of crushed almonds – however, if it is a particularly wet day, their fragrance is sadly not very noticeable. Weather dependant, the blossom can last for several weeks. If you’re considering planting a flowering cherry tree in your garden, here is our pick of four to get you started…
Prunus ‘Okame’
Prunus ‘Okame’ is a splendid small tree with ascending branches. These are covered with an abundance of single shell pink flowers in March and April. The dark green leaves turn orange and red in the autumn. This small tree has an eventual height and spread of approximately 4m, lending itself well for small gardens. Additionally, it can be planted in full sun, in moist, fertile soil; however, it will not fare well in waterlogged or permanently wet conditions. It is tolerant of pollution and popular with bees.
Prunus ‘Marie Mallet’
Prunus ‘Marie Mallet’ is an exceptionally pretty flowering cherry tree. This is a weeping variety and easy to grow. It is adorned with white flowers flushed with pink in the spring. It will grow happily in full sun or partial shade and has an eventual height and spread of approximately 5m after about 20 years. Prunus ‘Marie Mallet’ can be planted in any good well-drained soil. Its green foliage transforms into excellent, rich autumnal colours.
Prunus x hillieri ‘Spire’
Prunus x hillieri ‘Spire’ is an excellent, small deciduous tree. It has a compact, upright growth habit and is, therefore, a good contender for a small garden. It produces single light pink flowers in spring. Its young foliage appears bronze in spring, turning green during the summer before becoming red and orange in the autumn. Prunus x hillieri ‘Spire’ can be grown in full sun, in a sheltered or exposed position. It has an eventual height of 8-12m and a spread of 4-8m.
Prunus ‘Snow Showers’
Prunus ‘Snow Showers’ is massed with pretty, single snowy white blossom in spring. It has a weeping growth habit, which makes it ideal for a small garden. It is a hardy variety of cherry tree and easy to grow. It will grow in full sun or partial shade in good well-drained soil. Its mid-green foliage transforms into orange, red and yellow in the autumn. An ornamental cherry tree that is also popular with bees.
We have an excellent selection of flowering cherry trees in stock that can really enhance your garden project. We shall look forward to your visit to Arundel Arboretum, where a member of the team will be delighted to show you our stunning range. Or feel free to contact us for further information.
