Prunus Serrula Tree

Prunus serrula Tibetica is always a winner! In winter, it is convincing with its appealing bark colour, and in the spring with its white flowers. It is a large shrub or small tree that grows up to 5m high; often forming multi-stemmed, loose broad-crown. The crown grows more asymmetrical in maturity, dense and branched in a shrub-like fashion. The genus Prunus is one of the most diverse, and Prunus serrula has the most spectacular mahogany brown bark out of all.

Also known as the Tibetan Cherry tree, the pointy leaves of serrula are deciduous and elliptic, yellow-green when young but mature to dark green later. Its small cupped, white flowers grow in umbels in April to May. You can spot some rare, inconspicuous red miniature cherries from August. However, the highlight of this cherry is its ornamental bark with glossy-mahogany brown to copper-red colour. It smoothly peels off horizontally in paper-thin strips.

Prunus serrula prefers slightly dry to fresh, acidic to alkaline and well-drained sandy/loamy soils. Regardless of its personal preference, it is generally undemanding and tolerates all cultivated garden soils, except the heavy ones.

This cherry tree loves full sun but in cool places. It is frost hardy and wind tolerant. With medium watering, use slow-release fertilizer in the spring once.

With a Prunus, you can always find joy in your garden. It is perfect in gardens and parks, developing into impressive specimens. This ornamental tree will look stunning in high mixed bloom hedges.