Otherwise known as the 'Fuji cherry', this miniature cherry tree was a new addition to our garden last year. It really is a plant for small gardens, taking 20 - 50 years to reach its ultimate height of 2.5 m.
Although not a native species, this tiny tree, or perhaps better referred to as a shrub, bears single flowers that should be useful for pollinators. It has been awarded the 'plant for pollinators' logo, although I must say that I have noticed few bees visit the flowers. The leaves could provide a home for caterpillars and the buds may be taken by some birds, like bullfinches - neither of which I would consider a pest (there is no such thing in a wildlife garden). However, it does provide a cheery addition of white 1.5 cm blossoms with a dark pink centre, from which obvious long anthers emanate, tipped with pink-orange pollen. The flowers shown above are a little past their best - the buds open before the leaves appear, so the blossoms have been our for a few weeks now.
In autumn, small, dark 'cherries' form, which I think were of interest to a blackbird last year.
It may not be the best insect-magnet to be found in our little patch, but it begins flowering at a time when there isn't a huge amount of other nectar available, so I hope it can offer a pit-stop to early emerging bees and other insects in need of a sugar boost.
References:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/70924/prunus-incisa-kojo-no-mai/details accessed 24/03/2020
No comments:
Post a Comment