Prunus 'Tai-haku' (Cherry)

Common name: Great White Cherry 'Tai-Haku'

Description: This magnificent Japanese flowering cherry is renowned for producing the largest flowers of any ornamental cherry, with spectacular single white blooms that can measure up to 8cm across. In mid-spring, the tree becomes covered in masses of these enormous, pure white flowers that create a breathtaking display of pristine beauty. The flowers appear simultaneously with the emerging copper-bronze young foliage, creating a stunning colour combination of white against bronze that is quite unforgettable. The large flowers have a simple, elegant form with prominent golden stamens at the centre. The foliage matures to fresh green for summer before developing attractive orange and red autumn tints. This cultivar has a particularly interesting history - it was lost in Japan and only rediscovered in an English garden in the 1920s before being reintroduced to its homeland. The tree develops a strong, spreading, vase-shaped habit with excellent vigour. The combination of enormous white flowers, bronze spring foliage, and autumn colour makes this an outstanding specimen tree and one of the finest flowering cherries available.

Other benefits: largest cherry blossom flowers, pure white blooms, copper-bronze spring foliage, autumn colour, vigorous spreading habit, historic cultivar, spectacular spring display

Wildlife attraction: bees, pollinators

Height & spread (approx.) at 10 years: 5m x 5m

Position: full sun to partial shade; flowers best in good light

Soil pH: adaptable to most soils; performs well in neutral to slightly acidic conditions

Moisture: moderate watering required; prefers well-drained soil

Winter hardiness: very cold hardy to -25°C