Our Favorite Prunus Trees That Bloom in Spring
The trees of the Prunus genus are an exciting bunch. They cover the full range of the world’s plums, cherries, apricots, and even almonds. But not only do these trees produce delicious fruits, they also generate gorgeous springtime blooms and extremely useful lumber. Come learn more about these fantastic trees!
Cherry plum ( Prunus cerasifera ) is a deciduous small tree or a shrub native to Southern Europe and Western Asia. It is one of the most common wild fruits of its native region, producing numerous, rounded, yellow, red, or burgundy-colored, sweet, juicy fruit in summer and autumn. Cherry plum is also used as an ornamental tree, and as rootstock for other Prunus species.
Bird cherry (Prunus padus) is a small deciduous cherry tree in the subgenus Padus. This species is native to Europe, where it is also known as the Mayday tree because of its historical importance in spring (May Day) festivals. The Bird cherry is pollinated by bees and flies. The leaves, stems, and fruits of this species can be toxic to some mammals. In the past, the bark of this tree was traditionally placed near doorways as a spiritual gesture to ward off the plague.
Sweet cherry is a well-known species to fruit lovers worldwide. This stone fruit varies in flavor from sweet to tart, depending on the specific cultivar. Sweet cherry is also used for lumber and is a preferred wood type for furniture.
The blossoms of the Japanese cherry are the national flower of Japan and are a herald of the spring season worldwide. In Japan, a traditional picnic to view these lovely blossoms is a yearly tradition for many. The sweet scent of blossoms is one of the most popular choices for perfume.
Peach is native to Northwest China. China, Spain, and Italy are the top three producers of peaches world-wide. The peach is also the state fruit of Georgia. Peach production in the US in 2017 was valued at $599 million. The fruit has a yellow or white flesh, a sweet aroma, and a skin that is either velvety (peaches) or smooth (nectarines).
A large ornamental shrub, the Flowering almond or Prunus triloba, bears prolific pale pink blossoms in the spring. This shrub responds well to pruning, which will help it retain its compact size. Its red fruits are attractive to a variety of wildlife.
Armenian plum (Prunus armeniaca) is a fruit-bearing plant species native to Asia. Although the genus name, “Prunus,” means plum, the fruits of this tree are actually apricots. The seeds are occasionally used as substitutes for almonds because they share a similar shape and nutty taste. The Armenian plum has been cultivated by humans for centuries, and was even discovered in the remains of ancient Armenian settlements.
Winter-flowering cherry, as its name suggests, it blooms around the spring equinox week which is earlier than Yoshino cherry. The flower appears to be pale red to white with five single-flowered petals. This cherry blossom is a species with very long life-span among cherry blossoms. Because of its many flowering properties, it is used as the female parent of many varieties. It is also called the mother tree of Yoshino cherry.
Fuji cherry has 5 single-flowered petals with the color from white to pale red. Unlike other species, flowers bloom downward. It’s not as big as a tree, even when its bigger size is 10 m tall. Interestingly, even when it’s about 1 m tall, it will still bloom. It seems to be pretty suitable to grow as a garden tree or bonsai because it has the characteristics of flowering and not growing up. It is very cold-resistant and can withstand a temperature of -20℃.