Winter flowering cherry
Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’
Originally from Japan, this small and otherwise unassuming tree is easily overlooked during the Summer months but comes into its own from November to February. The Autumn fall of the colourful yellow leaves is followed by sporadic flushes of small white and pink flowers throughout the otherwise bare branches at a time of year when no other trees and few shrubs make such a colourful display. The tree seldom exceeds 6m tall in the UK and so can be grown in the smallest garden. Being a cultivar, the Winter Flowering Cherry can be propagated either from cuttings or by grafting on to the rootstock of other kinds of cherry.
Situation
This tree is planted in many gardens but often overlooked so keep a sharp eye out for small flowers on the bare branches of any small tree, between December and February and the chances are you are looking at a Winter Flowering Cherry.
Season/Life cycle
| Flowers | Leaves | Fruit |
| Bunches of small whitish pink flowers, appearing in sporadic flushes throughout the Winter months | Small serrated edge leaves, longer than they are wide and maybe initially bronze in colour but turning yellow or red before falling in Autumn |
Small cherries about 1.5cm diameter, turning black as they ripen but not edible to humans and do not seem to be much eaten by birds or insects. |
Uses
Ornamental garden tree.
