Autumn, Winter and early Spring Beauty: Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis Rosea’

The autumn-flowering cherry, Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis Rosea’

Spring-flowering cherries are coming into bloom now – and a fine sight they will be, really nothing to equal the glamorous profusion of it in fact. But this one is a proper gem, since it comes into flower whenever there is a mild spell throughout the winter months, or rather stopped from flowering only in much colder spells. Any time between October and well, now. Charming white or blush-pink blossom in the darker winter months and for that, all the more welcome.

I’ve just included one in the ‘Mediterranean’ garden I am planting in Kew, though that is a multi-stemmed specimen which will grow more as a shrub. I’ve photographed the blossom from that garden for this piece. Flowering cherries are not strictly Mediterranean, spring or winter-flowering, but I wanted some interest in the winter months and in any event, it is…