Prunus 'Spire'
flowering cherry blossom tree ( syn. Prunus 'Hillieri Spire' )
This tree is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.
- Position: full sun
- Soil: moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: slow
- Flowering period: March to April
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Hailed by many as one of the best smaller trees, this gorgeous cherry looks incredible in spring, when its stems are smothered in single, blush pink flowers. It has a relatively upright habit, which can be cut back even further in tight spaces, so it is ideal for smaller gardens. The foliage is pretty too. It emerges in spring with a bronze flush, remains fresh green throughout the summer, then turns orange and red in autumn before it drops.
When planting your ornamental cherry, prepare a hole up to three times the diameter of its root system. Fork over the base of the pit in readiness, incorporating plenty of organic matter into the backfill and planting hole. Avoiding frozen and waterlogged soil, trees should be planted out as they arrive. If you've ordered a bare root tree, soak the roots in a bucket of water for half an hour prior to planting, or if this is not possible, they can be heeled in temporarily, covering their roots with soil, or potted up. Choose a sheltered spot to protect emerging blossom. Lightly prune in summer to reduce the risk of silver leaf and bacterial canker, to retain an open ‘goblet' shape and remove any damaged, diseased or broken branches.