Spring is in full swing and this month ornamental cherries will be covered in blossom 🌸
Did you know that this is a time that’s celebrated in Japan? Ohanami (which translates to flower viewing) is a centuries old tradition where picnic style parties are held underneath sakura (cherry blossom). Ohanami gives the opportunity to enjoy spending time with family and friends whilst admiring beautiful surroundings. The fleeting beauty of sakura acts as a reminder to appreciate the present moment 😌
It sounds wonderful to me! If you was given the opportunity would you celebrate ohanami?
If you’re thinking about getting an ornamental cherry for your garden here are my top recommendations:
Prunus ‘Kojo-no-mai’
- Flowering from March to April
- Autumn colour
- Perfect for containers, grows to 2.5m x 2.5m
- 🏆 AGM 🐝 Loved by pollinators
Image credit: John Malone, Flickr.
Prunus ‘Amanogawa’
- Flowering in April
- Autumn colour
- Great for small gardens, grows to 8m x 3m
- 🏆 AGM
Image credit: Ericy202, Flickr.
Prunus ‘Accolade’
- Flowering from April to May
- Autumn colour
- Grows to around 6m x 4m
- 🏆 AGM
Image credit: Arb O’Retum, Flickr.
Prunus cerasifera ‘Nigra’
- Flowering from March to April
- Young red leaves mature to dark purple
- Single stemmed forms grow to 10m x 10m
- Smaller forms are available.
- 🏆 AGM 🐝 Loved by pollinators
Image credit: Katharina, Flickr.
Growing conditions:
Ornamental cherries need full sun and an area that’s sheltered from strong winds to protect blossom. Avoid planting in very wet soils.
When to buy/ plant:
Container grown trees are best planted in early spring or autumn. Bare root trees are much cheaper, these must be planted when dormant (late autumn or winter).
Thank you to my wonderful friend Chiharu Mochiduki for all the information and feature photo.
