The sight of billowing pink or white cherry blossom against a cloudless blue sky is a joy to behold. In fact, this vision gave such comfort during the first Covid lockdown that the National Trust is leading a project to create ‘blossom circles’ in cities across the UK to provide spaces for reflection and optimism and inspire a British equivalent of the Japanese custom of relishing the fleeting sight and scent of blossom.
Flowering from March to May, there is a cherry blossom to suit all tastes, from delicate, single blooms to blousy doubles, and from whites and the palest pinks to bright sugary pink. Here are some of our favourites:
Prunus ‘Pink Shell’ - A small, elegant tree with spreading branches and delicate single, pale pink flowers – a lovely contrast to the light green leaves. (4m)
Prunus 'Kursar' - A small and popular ornamental cherry tree and one of the first to flower with clusters of deep pink single blooms in March to April. It has a neat upright habit. ( 3/4m)
Prunus ‘Accolade’ - A pretty cherry, with a a graceful spreading shape and a cloud of large rose pink semi-double flowers in April/May. It also has smooth reddish brown bark and fiery orange foliage in autumn. (7m).
Prunus ‘Tai-Haku’ - The large icy white blossom on this great white cherry are simply stunning. A medium sized cherry with a nice rounded habit. (6m)
Prunus sargentii ‘Sargents Cherry’ - A large, early flowering cherry with single rose pink flowers in March and fiery autumn leaves. (12m)
Care: Cherries like well-drained soil and tolerate partial shade, but do best in the sun. Prune in the summer to avoid diseases such as bacterial canker.