About
The spring white flowers may have a light pink tinge. A deciduous tree with an upright growing habit and dense purple foliage. It may produce edible round fruit ripening in mid-summer.
About the genus
Prunus can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with showy flowers in spring, and often good autumn foliage colour. Some have edible fruit in autumn, and a few species have ornamental bark
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeTrees
HabitColumnar upright, Bushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height4-8 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height20-50 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationGrow in moderately fertile soil that is not prone to staying wet, and in full sun
PruningPruning group 1. Prune in mid-summer. If desired, you can trim last year’s growth after flowering in spring
PropagationPropagate by chip budding or grafting, although softwood cuttings in early summer with bottom heat can be successful
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to plum aphid and winter moth caterpillar
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to peach leaf curl, silver leaf, bacterial canker, blossom wilt and honey fungus