It's blossom time!

Either starring alone in the centre of a flowerbed or lining a path or driveway, flowering cherries have the seasonal wow factor. Steve and Louisa Portman of Clareville Nursery talk you through some of their favourites. 

Whatever your size of garden, you should be able to find a flowering cherry tree to suit. They come in a range of shapes and sizes – from spreading, vase-shaped, columnar or weeping. 

Despite their delicate appearance, flowering cherries are not too difficult to grow – they prefer an open, sunny site. Look for a not too windy spot – or you’ll lose those blossoms before their time. They will grow in most soil types, but thrive best in a well-drained soil enriched with organic matter.

Spreading: when many of us think of a flowering cherry, we most likely think of one of these shady, spreading  blossom trees, edging roadsides or planted in the middle of a large lawn. Among the most popular is Prunus shirotae (otherwise known as Mt Fuji flowering cherry) which has pure white flowers. It can grow to quite a size – approximately four or five metres high. If you’d like a touch of colour in the blossom, the later-blooming Prunus shimidsu sakura has double-pink flowers that hang on branches in long clusters. As it blooms, the flowers turn white.

 Vase-shaped: there’s not always space for the spreading branches of a shade tree. With this in mind, some flowering cherry varieties grow in an upright vase shape, making them a practical choice. One of the prettiest is Prunus kanzan, which not only has rich double pink blossom but also gorgeous autumn foliage. 

Fastigate: this means growing straight upwards  – ideal for small gardens or where you might want a vertical feature. Prunus amanogawa produces clusters of shell-pink semi-double  flowers on a vertical tree of 6 metres by 2 metres.

For the birds: looking for a brilliant display? Felix Jury, a Prunus campanulata or Formosan cherry,  blooms with claret red spring blossoms. Bred in New Zealand, it attracts waxeyes and tuis who love the sweet nectar.

Clareville Nursery and Garden Centre 3348 State Highway 2, Clareville, 5713 (Beside the Clareville Bakery). For a regular update of what’s in stock or to order please check the Clareville Nursery Facebook page, ask to be on the mailing list, or check out www.clarevillenursery.co.nz