prunus triloba 'multiplex' (Photo credit: M. Martin Vicente)

If you live in Sydney, it would be next to impossible not to have seen the prunus x blireana trees bursting to life each spring. The flowers are a light pink colour and grow along the branches which are coloured deep red-purple. In the height of their bloom during spring, the flowers fall around the tree like pink rain. Standing underneath a branch and gently shaking the blossoms loose is a favourite pastime for many children in spring.  Certainly one of the most delightful spring blossom trees, the prunus blireana is a cross between the prunus mume and the prunus cerasifera.  The mume is a Japanese apricot tree and the cerasifera is a purple leaved plum tree.

Blossoms are readily available to buy now for cut flower arrangements. You can order them by shopping for flowers online or pick them up from a local florist. The prunus blireana is distinctive as the branches are a deep red-purple colour. If you want to plant one in your garden, you will not be disappointed as the tree does not bear fruit and produces the lovely double pink flowers each spring. The prunus blireana looks stunning when used as a privacy wall and is commonly planted in rows along the street.

Tips for Caring for Prunus Blireana

• Plant the prunus blireana in a sunny position away from strong winds. During spring any harsh winds will blow the flowers off the tree.
• Make sure the soil has good drainage.
• After the tree flowers, prune the old branches from the middle. The prunus blireana only produces flowers on branches that are between 1-3 years old, so anything older than this is useless.
• Remove any understock suckers.
• Do not expect fruit, this hybridization is sterile.

If you care for your prunus blireana properly it should grow up to about 5 metres tall, produce fragrant pink-mauve coloured flowers in abundance every spring and grow red-purple leaves in autumn that turn green during summer.

Other Blossom Trees

The genus prunus includes the apricot, cherry, peach and plum tree. There are many hybrid species of prunus including the prunus blireana. The hybrids are cultivated as ornamental plants due to their abundance of flowers. They are easily shaped so make excellent garden trees that can form a beautiful privacy wall.

Japanese Cherry Blossom

Sakura or the Japanese cherry blossom is perhaps the most famous prunus. The prunus serrulata is native to Japan, Korea and China and has been romanticized by Japanese festivals, artists and also Buddhism. The cherry blossom has been widely introduced and thrives in many parts of the United States. The cherry blossom also grows well in parts of Europe including the United Kingdom, Turkey and Germany. They can also be found in Australia, Canada and Brazil.

In Japan, the image of the cherry blossom is symbolic of nature’s beauty and transience. The cherry blossom is featured in Japanese film, musical lyrics and traditional and contemporary art including anime. Like the frangipani in Australia, it has become a mass produced image and appears in many forms throughout the consumer sphere.