Each year blossom trees announce the arrival of spring and gaily declare that winter is over. To bring the song of spring into your garden, Don suggests a visit to your local nursery to find a blossom tree which appeals to you. Flowering plum is just one of many flowering blossom trees which burst into bloom in spring.
There are a succession of flowering blossom trees that bloom from late winter well into spring. The earliest to flower is the winter flowering peach. This is followed by the cherry plums, pears, cherries, flowering peaches and crabapples. If your garden is large enough you can arrange a succession of spring flowers that will blossom over many months.
Most of the flowering blossom trees bloom before their leaves appear, which adds to the beauty and intensity of the display.
Growing blossom trees
Although there are many different types of blossom trees, all have some basic requirements in common and are seen at their best in the temperate and cooler regions of Australia.
Climate map – Prunus x blireana
Most are at their most beautiful in flower in spring but some trees have features that make them interesting for many months of the year. The flowering plums, Prunus x lireana and Prunus cerasifera ‘Nigra’ have red new growth. The dark claret red colour persists through summer and into autumn in P. cerasifera ‘Nigra’. Although these trees have few pest and disease problems there are some that can cause problems.
Shot hole of prunus: This is a fungal disease which attacks prunus (such as almonds, flowering peaches, cherries and plums) causing the leaves to develop holes (as if peppered with shot). The leaves turn brown and drop. In severe cases the tree can become completely defoliated and will have to grow new leaves. If this cycle continues the tree will be weakened and may succumb to a secondary problem.
To overcome shot hole, spray with copper oxychloride as the trees are just coming into flower. Repeat spray in autumn after the leaves fall.
Peach leaf curl: This disfiguring disease affects the leaves of peaches and nectarines. The leaves become puckered and thickened as the fungus develops. The leaves eventually drop. It can be controlled by spraying before the leaves develop in late winter with copper oxychloride. The ideal stage at which to spray is as the leaf buds begin to swell and become plump.
Pear and cherry slug: This ugly but small dark green to black looking caterpillar (actually the larval stage of a sawfly) chews holes in leaves and can skeletonise the plant. It can be controlled by hosing the ‘slugs’ off the leaves or spraying foliage with carbaryl when the pests are discovered.
Autumn bonus
As well as looking spectacular when flowering in late winter, many of these trees also colour in autumn. The flowering cherries are particularly striking in autumn.
Care
The blossom trees all need moderately fertile soil, good drainage and protection from wind. This latter requirement is most important as blossom trees that are exposed to winds, especially while in flower, tend to only have a very short display before the wind blows the petals off the plant.
Although at their best in full sun most blossom trees will tolerate a little light shade.
These trees are grown for their flowers and rarely produce fruit however they should be checked after the main flowering time to see if any fruit has formed. If fruit has formed, clip it off. Fruit that is overlooked on ornamental trees (such as peaches) can become infected by pests such as Queensland fruit fly. So, despite it not being edible, it may still produce fruit which could in turn harbour insect pests. In addition fruit that remains on a tree can produce fungal spores which then infest other trees. Do not leave fruit lying around. Put it in a bag and into the garbage bin.
Prunus in general may make excessive growth in the central branches of the tree. To combat this, immediately after flowering each year, remove a few of the oldest stems to keep the plant youthful and vigorous and the growth open.
Shown on the segment
The main blossom tree seen on the ‘Burke’s Backyard segment was Prunus x blireana, a blossom tree which will have flowers from late August to mid-September depending on where it is growing. There is also a large flowered cultivar known as Prunus ‘Wrightsii’ available.
Availability
Flowering plum trees and other spring flowering blossom trees are available at most nurseries, especially in winter when the plants are sold bare-rooted and in spring when potted plants in flower can be purchased. Prices start at around $24.95 for a 30cm/12″ pot and $17 for a 1.5m (5′) bare rooted. Note: blossom trees tend to bloom better in their second year after planting than when newly planted in winter.
