Prunus - Flowering Cherry Trees

Prunus serrula Tibetica

Birch Bark Cherry Tree

Prunus serrula 'Tibetica', or Birch Bark Cherry as it is commonly known, is a tree that is prized for its ornamental red-brown bark. This tree also boasts willow-like leaves and small, cherry-like fruits. This really is a fantastic tree for year-round interest, as the deep mahogany-coloured bark glistens throughout all seasons. The bark, which peels away in bands with age, makes a really attractive feature in winter as the deep coppery-brown colour stands out in a sleeping winter garden. This is, of course, a flowering cherry tree, so it does have a blossom is spring: the flowers are small, white in colour and are present in April. The bark is by far the most notable feature of this tree, so this is not the choice if you’re after a profusely flowering tree. The deep green leaves are willow-like and cover the tree in spring, summer, before turning yellow in autumn. Autumn also sees the arrival of the small, cherry-like fruits, which are a great natural bird feeder.   This handsome tree was the worthy winner of the RHS' Award of Garden Merit (AGM) in 2002, but it was first introduced to the UK back in 1908 by Ernest Wilson. Wilson brought the Tibetan cherry tree over from China and it has been a popular choice since its arrival. This tree needs a sunny spot in the garden for it to really thrive. We would strongly recommend planting it alongside the stunning Betula ‘Snow Queen’, so that the glistening white bark of the ‘Snow Queen’ can contrast beautifully with the deep mahogany sheen of the ‘Tibetica’. This tree also works well when planted as a lawn specimen and, to really set it off in winter, you could add lights to the tree and enjoy the glossy bark being highlighted by the twinkle of the lights. Common Name: Birch Bark Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus serrula 'Tibetica'Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: May/WhiteHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 5m x 4mSpecial features: Beautiful polished mahogany-like bark.

Prunus Autumnalis Rosea

Autumn Cherry Tree

Prunus 'Autumnalis Rosea' is a small deciduous tree that features pale-pink, semi-double flowers that appear in autumn and last over winter. This ornamental specimen also boasts ovate, dark-green leaves and glossy fruits in spring. This tree is a true delight and is worthy of planting in any garden: a tree that gives you year-round interest and that remains relatively small, making is perfect for a range of gardens. Each autumn, usually in November, a profusion of bell-shaped, pink, semi-double flowers appear all over the tree. The pale pink flowers open from dark pink buds and they add a real burst of colour as the dark nights draw in. From November to March, the blooms appear intermittently and they look stunning in a snow-covered garden. The flowers later become small and glossy fruits, which make a great natural bird feeder, but the fruits are soon overshadowed by the spring foliage. The leaves, which are ovate in shape and dark-green in colour, cover the spreading branches and make a great foil for lighter-leaved varieties. One of our favourite trees for planting alongside the ‘Autumnalis Rosea’ is the stunning Prunus Okame Harlequin, as the vivid pink flowers and variegated leaves of the Harlequin contrast beautifully with the strong green foliage of the ‘Autumnalis Rosea’. Come autumn, just before the flowers appear, the leaves produce a final show of colour: they turn to shades of rich red, orange and yellow before falling. Plant this tree in a sunny position for it to fully thrive: it makes a great lawn specimen for smaller gardens that need an injection of winter colour.  Common Name: Autumn Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus x subhirtella 'Autumnalis Rosea'Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: From late autumn, through winter until spring /Bell-shaped, semi-double pale pink flowers.Hardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 4m x 4mSpecial features: Flowers from late autumn, through winter until spring. (Deciduous)

Prunus Autumnalis

Autumn Cherry Tree

Prunus Autumnalis, or the 'Autumn Cherry Tree', offers year-round interest with its winter flowers, fresh green foliage and strong autumn colour. A fantastic tree for the smaller garden. This flowering cherry tree is valued for its bell-shaped, semi-double white flowers which appear in bursts from late autumn through to early spring: the flowers appear on bare stems and look truly stunning in a winter garden. The flowers open from pink buds and some of the petals have a pink tint to them. The simple flowers are delicate and truly charming: they add a much-needed dose of floral beauty over the colder months. In spring, the leaves appear and are at first a bronzed green, later maturing to a rich, deeper green. By summer, the winter flowers have become small fruits, which are often enjoyed by the birds. This tree also boasts a good autumn leaf colour, with the ovate and sharply-toothed leaves turning to blistering shades of orange and russet red before falling. This is a hardy tree that is suitable for planting in a range of situations: it has an attractive, spreading habit and it works really well as an ornamental specimen. With a fairly small eventual height and spread, the 'Autumnalis' can be planted in a smaller garden. One obvious choice for a planting partner is the simply stunning 'Prunus Autumnalis Rosea', but if you want something a little different then we would recommend the 'Prunus Royal Burgundy' as the wine-red foliage of the Royal Burgundy makes the perfect foil for the deep green leaves. Common Name: Autumn Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus x subhirtella 'Autumnalis'Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: From late autumn, through winter until spring /Bell-shaped, semi-double pale pink flowers.Hardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 4m x 4mSpecial features: White flowers from late autumn, through winter until spring. (Deciduous)

Prunus The Bride

The Bride Flowering Cherry Tree

Common Name: The Bride Flowering Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus 'The Bride'Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: April/WhiteHardiness: Fully hardyEventual Height/spread: 4m x 4mSpecial features: Compact growing, rounded tree ideal for small gardens.  Large flowers with pure white petals and distinctive red anthers.  Prunus 'The Bride' is an attractive, compact growing, rounded tree ideal for gardens where space is limited. In early to mid-spring small, pointed buds open to reveal very large, pure white petals contrasting perfectly with the red anthers in the centre. The green summer leaves turn to give a display of varying shades of orange and red in autumn before falling.

Prunus Kursar

Flowering Cherry Tree

Common Name: Flowering Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus 'Kursar'Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: Late March/Rich deep pink flowersHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 4m x 3mSpecial features: Rich deep pink flowers. (Deciduous)Prunus 'Kursar' is a beautiful small tree for spring and autumn. An array of rich, deep pink flowers appear in late March before the fresh copper leaves. The leaves develop to a mid-green colour and have a final autumnal display of reds and golds. This is a good tree for planting in smaller gardens and is ideal for an urban garden as it is pollution tollerant.

Prunus Okame

Flowering Cherry Tree

Common Name: Flowering Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus 'Okame'Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: March to early April/Dainty carmine pink flowersHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 4m x 4mSpecial features: Dainty carmine pink flowers. (Deciduous)Prunus 'Okame' is a lovely, small, bushy tree bearing masses of dainty carmine pink flowers through March and early April. Green summer foliage turns rich yellow and red during autumn. This tree makes a superb lawn specimen for small gardens due to its small eventual height and neat growing habit.

Prunus avium Plena

Wild Cherry Tree

Common Name: Wild Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus avium 'Plena'Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: April/WhiteHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 12m x 12mSpecial features: small reddish fruit.Masses of long-lasting, double white blossom appear in mid-spring with the new leaves, followed by small reddish fruit. Dark green leaves turn rich, vibrant red in autumn. Pyramid shape becoming rounded with age makes it an ideal plant for a woodland garden or as an avenue tree.

Prunus sargentii

Flowering Cherry Tree

Common Name: Sargent's Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus sargentiiSoil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: Spring/Single bowl-shaped, pale pink flowers.Hardiness: Fully hardHeight/spread in 20 years: 5m x 4mSpecial features: Brilliant orange and red foliage in early autumn (Deciduous)Prunus sargentii is a beautiful flowering cherry tree which features chestnut brown bark and single, pale pink flowers in mid spring. The young foliage is bronze-red which really complients the pretty pink blossom. By summer, the leaves are mid-green and come autumn they fade to a crisp yellow and burnt orange. The tree has a spreading habit and a fairly rounded crown.

Prunus Pink Parasol

Japanese Flowering Cherry Tree

Common Name: Japanese Flowering Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus 'Pink Parasol' (aka Prunus 'Hanagasa')Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: Late April/ Large pale pink flowers.Hardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 10 years: 4m/4mSpecial features: One of the most beautiful of all the Japanese flowering cherry trees. (Deciduous)Prunus 'Pink Parasol' is one of the most beautiful and distinctive of all the Japanese flowering cherries with its graceful spreading habit. The branches become covered in long stemmed, large, pale-pink flowers, packed with petals which surround their green centres. This flowering cherry was first introduced to the UK from Japan in 1993.

Prunus Okame Harlequin

Flowering Cherry Tree

Common Name: Flowering Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus 'Okame Harlequin'Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: March/Dark pink flowersHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 10 years: 3m x 2.5mSpecial features: Unusual white variegated leaves. (Deciduous) Prunus 'Okame Harlequin' is a very unusual and stunning form of Prunus 'Okame' with dramatic summer white variegated leaves. The profuse display of dark pink flowers appear in March. This makes a good specimen tree for smaller gardens. It is recommended to prune back the branches hard after flowering and the resulting new vigorous summer growth will be more spectacular.

Prunus Spring Snow

Flowering Cherry Tree

Common Name: Prunus 'Spring Snow' Latin Name: Prunus 'Beni-tamanishiki'Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: Late April/White flowers.Hardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 10 years: 4m x 4mSpecial features: Young coppery leaves provide which a lovely contrast with the flowers (Deciduous)Prunus 'Spring Snow’ is a small tree with a spreading habit. Clusters of white flowers appear like bundles of snow on its branches in late April. The young coppery leaves provide a lovely contrast with the pretty white flowers. This flowering cherry was first introduced to the UK from Japan in 1993.