Prunus ‘Accolade’ (Flowering Cherry)

Regarded as one of the most attractive early-flowering ornamental cherries, award-winning Prunus ‘Accolade’ is a small deciduous tree of spreading habit. Opening from dark pink buds, profuse semi-double, shell pink flowers in drooping clusters appear in early to mid-spring. The blooms are large, up to 1.5 in. across (4 cm), and count up to 10-12 petals. They are born in abundance along the bare branches and provide a breathtaking floral display. As the flowers wane, the ovate and dark green leaves emerge, creating a fresh summer canopy before turning brilliant orange in fall. As the leaves fall, they reveal smooth dark red bark, adding winter interest to the landscape. A graceful, ornamental cherry tree that makes a fine specimen for the lawn.

• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
• Grows vigorously up to 25 ft. tall and wide (7-8 m).
• Performs best in full sun in moist, relatively fertile, well-drained soils.
• Perfect choice as a single specimen plant, lawns.
• Prune in midsummer if the silver leaf is a problem
• Watch for caterpillars, leaf-mining moths, bullfinches, silver leaf, bacterial canker, and blossom wilt.
• Propagate by budding or grafting, although softwood cuttings in early summer with bottom heat can be successful.