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Well, Hello Blossom!
Since the 7th century there have been annual Cherry Blossom Festivals held throughout Japan to celebrate the arrival of spring. Even the national weather forecast includes a blossom forecast leading up to the celebration. I am in complete accordance with the Japanese, as to me, the Flowering Cherry is the plant that truly heralds the start of spring in the garden.  

The attractive bare branches swell with fat swollen buds and open to an explosion of incomparable beauty. The fresh green leaves that follow often have excellent colour in autumn. Ornamental bark is another desired feature. Everybody at least once in their life should stand under a mature flowering cherry in full blossom and look up in wonder. With clever planting you can get to do this in your own garden from August through to November.  

The botanical name for Flowering Cherry is Prunus, which is the Latin word for Plum, which comes from the same botanical family. Flowering Cherry trees are actually quite easy to grow but need space to appreciate their true beauty. They are tolerant of most soils but will be happiest in deeply worked well drained soil. They will not tolerate "wet feet" so if you have a really heavy clay soil that stays moist for long periods you will need to work it well by adding peat, sand and/or gypsum to ensure your tree stays healthy. 

The Flowering Cherry is remarkably wind tolerant but as you can imagine harsh wind can be detrimental to the delicate blossoms, so consider this when choosing your planting spot. With all Flowering Cherry trees it is important to remove any shoots that come up from below the graft. Just rub off when small, or if they get a bit wayward, cut off with sharp secateurs. If you have planted a weeping Cherry (and why wouldn't you) then remove any shoots that appear below the head of the tree.  

If you particularly want to attract birds to the garden then choose a form of Prunus campanulata. Tui and other nectar loving birds will love both you and the bright pink bell shaped blossoms that smother the branches from August onward. Usually, once a tree is discovered by Tui, then repeat annual visits can be guaranteed.

There is a shape and size of Flowering Cherry to suit most gardens so have a browse through our selection and start to fill your dreams with clouds of blossom. 

Flowering Cherry. Add a touch of softness in spring with this outstanding flowering Cherry that has masses of semi-double rich pink blossoms in pendulous clusters in spring. Open spreading habit. Vivid autumn colours. Easy to grow in well drained soil. Deciduous. RHS AGM. Est.10yr.growth.

 

Flowering Cherry. Add a touch of softness in spring with this outstanding flowering cherry that has masses of semi-double rich pink blossoms in pendulous clusters in spring. Open spreading habit. Vivid autumn colours. Easy to grow in well drained soil. Deciduous. RHS AGM. Est.10yr.growth.

 

Upright Flowering Cherry. A popular street planting tree because of its narrow columnar habit. Clusters of fragrant, semi-double, shell-pink blossoms smother the tree in mid spring. Fresh bronze-green spring foliage turning bright green for summer. Deciduous. Est.10yr.growth.

The Japanese name Amanogawa means 'Milky Way' describing the tree in full bloom. The Royal Horticultural Society have given this tree an Award of Garden Merit.

 

An unusual flowering cherry in that it will start flowering in winter if the temperatures are mild. The main display of dainty semi-double blush pink flowers is as expected in spring and is not at all diminished by the early start. Plant in a sunny well drained spot. Deciduous. Est.10yr.growth.

 

This weeping cherry would look fabulous as a feature tree with its semi pendulous habit abd abundance of white/pink cup shaped flowers borne in clusters. An impressive sight in full bloom.

 

This weeping cherry would look fabulous as a feature tree with its semi pendulous habit abd abundance of white/pink cup shaped flowers borne in clusters. An impressive sight in full bloom.

 

Raised in NZ, 'Awanui' is a little different from other flowering cherries in that the horizontal branches drape softly almost to ground level. The prolific spring blooms are softest baby pink and single. A tree in full blossom is extremely pretty. Definitely a must have. Deciduous.

 

Raised in NZ, 'Awanui' is a little different from other flowering cherries in that the horizontal branches drape softly almost to ground level. The prolific spring blooms are softest baby pink and single. A tree in full blossom is extremely pretty. Definitely a must have. Deciduous.

 

Raised in NZ, 'Awanui' is a little different from other flowering cherries in that the horizontal branches drape softly almost to ground level. The prolific spring blooms are softest baby pink and single. A tree in full blossom is extremely pretty. Definitely a must have. Deciduous.

 

Flowering Plum. A robust and highly decorative small tree with fragrant, double pink blossom that decorates the bare branches in early spring. The summer foliage is an attractive bronze-purple tone that makes a nice contrast to the all that green. Plant in a sunny well drained spot. Deciduous.