Prunus × subhirtella ‘Autumnalis Rosea’

This is a real favourite on our Thurning ground for its unusual flowering season. Through autumn and winter, particularly in milder spells, it produces flushes of lovely semi-double, pale pink flowers. They open from darker buds and bring real cheer when little else is performing.

It’s a small, deciduous tree with a graceful, spreading habit, eventually reaching up to 8 metres tall. The leaves are a simple dark green through summer, turning to shades of yellow and orange in autumn. It will grow happily in most soils as long as they are well-drained, and does best in a spot with full sun.

This cherry generally needs very little looking after. If you do need to shape it or remove any crossing or dead branches, it’s best to prune in summer after the main flowering period. It’s a classic choice for a specimen tree in a lawn, where its winter flowers can be properly appreciated.