Family: Rosaceae

This is a large genus of shrubs and trees grown both for ornament and fruit. Most are deciduous and most are native to the northern hemisphere, particularly Europe and Asia. Prunus contains many of the most delicious, edible stone fruits (apricots, cherries, peaches, plums and nectarines) and some of the most beautiful flowering trees, for example, the Japanese flowering cherries. Some species are grown for their superb autumn foliage; others for their brightly coloured, summer leaves. The variety in growth habits makes it possible to select one suitable for any position in the garden. Most of the species and all of the cultivars described here are grown for their attractive flowers, which appear from early to late spring, unless other-wise stated.

Species

P. armeniaca, zone 6, apricot, is the species grown for the popular stone fruit, ornamental apricots being derived from P. mume.

P. avium, zone 4, wild cherry, from western Asia and Europe, is thought to be one of the parents of the modern fruiting cherries. It is a broad, spreading tree, which grows to around 20 m (65 ft) high. The pointed, dark green leaves turn red, crimson and yellow before falling. Cultivar 'Plena' grows to a height and spread of around 12 m (40 ft), with a rounded habit and green, oval to lance-shaped leaves that colour well in autumn. The semi-double, white towers are borne in large clusters.

P. x blireana, zone 5, cherry plum, grows 4 m (13 ft) tall and 3 m (10 ft) wide, forming a vase shape. The reddish purple leaves change to deep green in summer and the dainty, double flowers are rose pink, appearing in early to mid-spring, before the foliage emerges.

P. campanulata, zone 8, Taiwan cherry, is slow-growing, to 10 m (33 ft) high, with a slender, upright habit. The green leaves are ovate to lance-shaped, colouring well in autumn. This species looks spectacular in spring, when the bare branches are covered with clusters of bell-shaped, cerise flowers.

P. cerasifera, zone 4, cherry plum, has been cultivated in the Mediterranean region for many years, both as an ornamental and for its fruit. Numerous ornamental cultivars have been developed, including'Nigra', which grows 4 m (13 ft) high and 3 m (10 ft), wide in a vase shape. It has blackish purple leaves and single, pale pink flowers.

P. cerasus, zone 6, sour cherry, is grown for its fruit.

P. dulcis (Synonym: P. amygdalus), zone 7, almond, originating from central Asia, is known to have been cultivated by the Greeks and Romans. Even the wild fruiting form has great flowering beauty, and lovely, ornamental hybrids are available.

P. glandulosa, zone 4, dwarf flowering almond, reaches 1 m (3 ft) tall and wide with upright, suckering growth. The new growth of the green, ovate leaves is tinged with pink and the single, pink flowers are followed by deep red, fleshy fruit. Cultivar 'Alba Plena' has double, white flowers; 'Sinensis' has double, pink flowers.

P. laurocerasus, zone 7, cherry laurel, from eastern Europe and south-west Asia, and P. lusitanica, zone 7, Portugal laurel, are two of the best known, evergreen ornamentals. Both have glossy green, leathery leaves and upright spikes of small, sweetly scented, white flowers followed by red berries, which ripen to black. Both make excellent hedging and screening plants, being a familiar feature of the Mediterranean landscape. They tolerate frequent clipping and withstand a wide range of climatic conditions, including cold winds and dryness, once established.

P. mume, zone 7, Japanese or ornamental apricot, is a deciduous tree, 6-8 m (20-26 ft) high, with a rounded crown. It is the first of the Prunus species to flower, flowers often appearing in late winter. Species blooms are single and may be white or red, but there are many lovely, double-flowered forms.

P. padus, zone 4, bird cherry, grows 15 m (50 ft) tall and 10 m (33 ft) wide, with an open, spreading habit. The broad, green leaves are lance-shaped and the single, white, fragrant flowers appear in pendulous clusters.

P. persica, zone 8, peach, has been known in its native China for almost 5000 years. It grows to 5 m (16 ft) tall and 4 m (13 ft) wide, in a vase shape, and is easily recognized by its profusion of pinkish red blooms. The mid-green leaves, to 15 cm (6 in) long, appear after the blossoms. Many of the ornamental hybrids have double flowers and set no fruit. Cultivar 'Versicolour' has double, white flowers striped with red, or occasionally deep rose; 'Alba Plena' produces double, pure white flowers; 'Rosea Plena' bears double, deep rose pink flowers.

P. serrulata, zone 6, Japanese flowering cherry, zone 6, grows 8-9 m (26-30 ft) high and is the parent of many beautiful hybrids, with variable growth habits and flowers. There are many fine cultivars of Japanese flowering cherries. 'Amanogawa' has an upright, poplar-like forms and has semi-double, pale pink flowers; 'Fugenzo', with double, pale pink flowers, has a spreading growth habit; 'Kanzan' also has a spreading habit, bearing double, rich pink flowers; 'Kikushidare-zakura' (Synonym: 'Cheal's Weeping Cherry') has a weeping habit, producing double, deep pink, frilled flowers; 'Okumiyaku' has a wide, spreading form with a flattened crown and double, white flowers, from pink buds; 'Shirofugen', also of wide, spreading habit, has double flowers which are pink in bud opening to blush white; 'Shirotae' (Synonym: 'Mt Fuji' or 'Kojima') has a broad, spreading habit, with semi-double, sometimes single, white, drooping flowers; 'Tai-Haku', the great white cherry, has a very tall, strong growth habit, reaching 6 m (20 it), with very large, single, snow white flowers, borne in pendulous clusters; 'Ukon' has an open, spreading habit with maturity, producing interesting pink-tinged greenish cream flowers.

P. x subhirtella 'Pendula' (Synonym: P. x .subhirtella 'Pendula Rosea'), zone 6, weeping rosebud cherry, is usually grown on standards, 1-3 m (3-10 ft) tall. The pendulous branches arch gracefully and the broad, lance-shaped, green leaves turn golden yellow in autumn. The new growth is a pinkish bronze and the small, single flowers are pale pink.

P. x yedoensis, zone 6, yoshino cherry or traditional cherry of Japan, grows to a height of 15 m (50 ft) and a width of 10 m (33 ft), into a large, round-headed, striking tree with broad, lance-shaped, green leaves. The leaves colour well in autumn, following the massed display of fragrant, white or pale pink flowers. It makes an excellent lawn specimen or avenue tree.

Cultivation

Although fairly adaptable, Prunus species do better in areas with cold winters. Most of those grown for their spring flowers and autumn foliage thrive in cool and cold climates, where they have complete winter dormancy. Some Prunus, though, such as the ornamental forms of peach, P. persica, are better in some-what milder climates, and in positions sheltered from cold winds. Plant all Prunus in well-drained garden soil, enriched with well-rotted organic material, and water well prior to planting. Because the deciduous species are fully dormant in winter, they can be transplanted easily as quite large specimens.

Branches should first be pruned by one-third and damaged roots should be removed by clean cuts with secateurs. Feed once a year with a complete plant food and renew mulch. Most Prunus nspecies require little or no pruning, except to remove wayward branches and dead wood. P. glandulosa needs to be pruned back immediately after flowering. This species and its cultivars are generally cut almost to ground level, which results in regrowth of slender stems clothed with new, red-tinted, green leaves. They will flower the following year.

P. persica suffers, as all peaches do, from infestations of peach leaf curl, the symptoms of which are unsightly, blistered and misshapened leaves. To control, apply a copper compound at leaf-bud swell. If not treated early, it will be another year before effective treatment can be carried out.

Most of the ornamental species are budded onto seedling stock of the same or similar species in summer, and many, such as the weeping kinds (P. subhirtella 'Pendula' and P. x yedoensis 'Pendula'), are grown on tall standards by this method, the branches drooping almost to ground level and providing a spectacular curtain of spring flowers.

The lovely, upright P. campanulata is also budded, but it seeds freely, sometimes producing lovely, pale pink forms. P. glandulosa is propagated from soft basal cuttings in spring; P. laurocerasus and P. lusitanica are propagated from semi-ripe cuttings in late summer or autumn, or from hard-wood cuttings in winter.

Climate

Best in cool to cold, moist climates; some species do well in warmer areas.