Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula Rubra’ (16/03/2014, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun
Soil: Moist, well drained
Flowering period: Spring
Eventual Height: 8m
Eventual Spread: 8m
Hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Family: Rosaceae
Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula Rubra’ is a deciduous tree with a weeping habit. Its dark green leaves are ovate with serrate margins, up to 10cm long and 5cm broad. Its leaves turn yellow/ orange/ red in autumn before they fall. Its pink single flowers are up to 13mm across and appear in clusters of up to five. Its fruit is a cherry like, ovoid, black fruit.
Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula Rubra’ Flowers (16/03/2014, Kew Gardens, London)
Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula Rubra’, commonly known as Weeping Cherry, is native to Japan. The species is believed to be cultivated with no records of it in the wild. Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula Rubra’ is synonymous with Prunus pendula ‘Pendula Rubra’
The etymological root of the binomial name Prunus is from the classical name of the plum tree. Subhirtella is derived from the Latin hirtus ’hairy’ referring to the leaves and young wood. Pendula is derived from the Latin pendeo meaning ‘to hang’. Rubra is from the Latin meaning ‘red’.
Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula Rubra’ is useful to the landscape architect for its autumn colour, spring flowers and architectural weeping habit.
Ecologically, Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula Rubra’ flowers are attractive to pollinating insect.
Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula Rubra’ Bark (16/03/2014, Kew Gardens, London)
The Royal Horticultural Society have given Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula Rubra’ (Prunus pendula ‘Pendula Rubra’) their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.
Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula Rubra’ prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. This tree dislike wet soils.
Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula Rubra’ requires little maintenance. If necessary pruning should be carried out after flowering, from April to July to minimise the risk of Silver leaf infection.
