OUTSIDEKENT
BLOSSOM WATCH CONT .
CRAB APPLE BLOSSOM © Catherine Hayburn CHERRY ‘ KANZAN ’ © Sarah Davis JUDAS TREE BLOSSOM © Neil Cook
Five trees to bring the joy of blossom to your garden :
Malus baccata var . mandshurica ( Manchurian Siberian crab apple ) As the seasons pass , the pure white blossom of mid- April makes way for an abundance of cherry-like deep red apples that take centre stage in our autumnal and Christmas displays – they last into the new year . Requiring only basic tree husbandry with little or no pruning , this fully hardy tree , native to eastern Asia , is perfect for all garden lovers . It can also be used in orchards as a pollinator tree . -Jamie Leslie , senior gardener , Ightham Mote , Kent
Pyrus communis ( pear cultivars ) Created by Rudyard Kipling , our Pear Alley provides one of the best views towards the house . It is clothed in white pear blossom in April , which is good for pollinators , and it is under-planted with springflowering bulbs and perennials such as Scilla litardierei , Symphytum ibericum , bluebells and tulips . The metal structure is original , but the pears were replaced in 2000 , matching original cultivars including ' Beurre Hardy ', ' William Bon Chretien ', and ' Doyenne du Comice '.
The espalier pear trees are trained along the metal structure to show off the fruits to their best advantage . These varieties produce good crops and are delicious to eat off the tree . A further restoration of Pear Alley is planned for this autumn once the fruit has been picked . -Len Bernamont , garden & outdoors manager , Bateman ’ s
Prunus ' Kanzan ' ( cherry ‘ Kanzan ') There is a reason why this is one of the most popular double-flowering cherry trees . In March / April it has floriferous double pink flowers , followed by lovely bronze leaves turning green in summer . Once autumn is here the foliage develops a coppery orange colour before falling . A reliable and wonderful tree giving great value through the seasons , and even better if you can position it where you can enjoy it from a window . -Anthony Mason , head gardener , Cliveden , Berkshire
Cercis siliquastrum ( Judas tree ) I really look forward to this flowering in May – unusually , the deep pink blossoms erupt straight from the main stem and branches which gives added ‘ wow ’ factor . These are followed by pea-like fruits which are most obvious in late summer / early autumn . It ’ s a reliable performer and not a shy flowerer . It ’ s fairly easy to obtain and grow and can happily be pruned to shape . Plant it in a nice open space where it can be seen to full effect . -Neil Cook , head gardener , Hanbury Hall , Worcestershire
Malus domestica ‘ Discovery ’ ( apple ‘ Discovery ’) This early dessert apple , a cross between ‘ Worcester Pearmain ’ and ( possibly ) ‘ Beauty of Bath ’, is as beautiful as it is delicious , producing pure white , cup-shaped blossoms from around the end of April .
Be mindful of the rootstock it is grown on as this will dictate its eventual size ( good fruit growing nurseries can advise ). Ideally , choose an open and relatively sunny site and be generous with your planting hole . Make sure there is plenty of room to accommodate a good helping of well-rotted manure in the base , adding more as a mulch on top . It ’ s extra work but giving it a ‘ good breakfast ’ like this will really pay off . -Vicky Cody , senior gardener , Snowshill Manor and Garden , Gloucestershire
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