Prunus - Avium Plena - Wild Cherry

Skill Level: Beginner
Exposure: Full sun
Hardiness: Hardy
Soil type: Well-drained/light, Moist
Time to prune: October to March
Time to plant: October to March

Full sunlight is needed for many plants to assume their full potential. Many of these plants will do fine with a little less sunlight, although they may not flower as heavily or their foliage as vibrant. Areas on the southern and western sides of buildings usually are the sunniest. The only exception is when houses or buildings are so close together, shadows are cast from neighboring properties. Full sun usually means 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sunlight on a sunny day. Partial sun receives less than 6 hours of sun, but more than 3 hours. Plants able to take full sun in some climates may only be able to tolerate part sun in other climates. Know the culture of the plant before you buy and plant it!

Wild Cherry

It is tolerant of a wide range of soils including heavy clay. The climate over most of lowland Britain is suitable for it. Its outline is pyramidal at first becoming rounded and spreading after 25 years. Height may exceed 16 metres and crown width by then may be over 10 metres. The bark is shiny purplish-brown with horizontal bands and scaly patches of dull grey-brown. The type first appeared in cultivation around 1700. It is usually grafted on to Prunus avium so there is always a need to watch for a tendency to revert, or produce a forest of wild suckers from the roots.

Growing to a height of 15 to 20m with a spread 10m it is not really suitable for the smaller garden. It tolerates clayey soil and, while completely hardy, seldom produces fruit.

Height: 1200cm
Spread: 1200cm

This is probably the best white cherry in cultivation. Like its parent the native wild cherry it makes a big tree. It is equally as floriferous as any white Japanese cultivar but does not have the stunted appearance most mature Japanese cherries take on. Clusters of drooping double white flowers occur at the same time as many tulips and early bedding plants making this the ideal spring garden and park tree.

The big advantage of growing 'Plena', and not its much bigger species parent, is that it has double white flowers, and makes a fantastic show in May when it's in full bloom. Give it a prominent position, in the middle of a lawn (but note it will eventually get very big) where it can be clearly seen. There's another good show in the autumn when the dark green leaves colour up before falling. It has been given the Award of Garden Merit by the RHS.

Fertilization for Young Plants

Young plants need extra phosphorus to encourage good root development. Look for a fertilizer that has phosphorus, P, in it(the second number on the bag.) Apply recommended amount for plant per label directions in the soil at time of planting or at least during the first growing season.

Fertilization for Established Plants

Established plants can benefit from fertilization. Take a visual inventory of your landscape. Trees need to be fertilized every few years. Shrubs and other plants in the landscape can be fertilized yearly. A soil test can determine existing nutrient levels in the soil. If one or more nutrients is low, a specific instead of an all-purpose fertilizer may be required. Fertilizers that are high in N, nitrogen, will promote green leafy growth. Excess nitrogen in the soil can cause excessive vegetative growth on plants at the expense of flower bud development. It is best to avoid fertilizing late in the growing season. Applications made at that time can force lush, vegetative growth that will not have a chance to harden off before the onset of cold weather.

Types of Pruning

Types of pruning include: pinching, thinning, shearing and rejuvenating.

Pinching is removing the stem tips of a young plant to promote branching. Doing this avoids the need for more severe pruning later on.

Thinning involves removing whole branches back to the trunk. This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to let more light in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease. The best way to begin thinning is to begin by removing dead or diseased wood.

Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using hand or electric shears. This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedge or topiary.

Rejuvenating is removal of old branches or the overall reduction of the size of a shrub to restore its original form and size. It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a time. Remember to remove branches from the inside of the plant as well as the outside. When rejuvenating plants with canes, such as nandina, cut back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more natural look.

'plena'

This cultivar is presumably a sport of wild cherry. It has occured several times and been named variously by commercial nurserymen seeking fame and fortune. 'Grandiflora', 'Multiplex' and flora plena are claimed to be distinct, but the justification for such diversity could be challenged.