Prunus 'Tai-haku'
flowering cherry blossom tree ( syn. Prunus serrulata 'TaiHaku' )
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: average
- Flowering period: April
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Pale pink buds cover the branches in mid-spring, opening to large, often 6cm (2½in) wide, white flowers which hang in small clusters among the young bronze foliage. The leaves turn rich green as they mature through the summer, before turning shades of yellow and orange in autumn. The coppery-red, glossy, peeling bark is a bonus. This vigorous, spreading tree provides a dazzling display in spring, which makes ‘Tai-Haku’ a lovely flowering cherry tree for all gardens.
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.