Height60-80cm

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• One of the earliest trees to flower (often February–March), with abundant white or pink blossom that supports early pollinators.
• Produces small edible plum-like fruits (red, yellow or purple) useful for eating fresh, jams, jellies or wine.
• Excellent wildlife value – flowers attract bees and insects; fruits feed birds.
• Tough, adaptable and low-maintenance; good as a specimen tree, informal hedge or screen. Purple-leaved forms (e.g. ‘Nigra’) add strong ornamental colour.
• Fully hardy and self-fertile or partly self-fertile.

Planting Guide

• Position: Full sun preferred (tolerates partial shade); avoid frost pockets or very exposed low-lying spots so early blossom is less likely to be damaged.
• Soil: Any reasonably fertile, well-drained soil (tolerates chalk, clay, loam or sand); moist but not waterlogged.
• When to plant: Late autumn to early spring.
• How to plant: Dig a hole wide enough for the roots to spread. Plant at the same depth as previously grown in the nursery. Firm in, water thoroughly and mulch. Stake young trees if needed. 
• Aftercare: Water during dry spells for the first 1–2 years. Keep a weed-free circle around the base and apply an annual mulch. Prune sparingly in summer only (to reduce risk of silver leaf).

Grows to roughly 8–12 m tall and wide as a free-standing tree; easily kept smaller as a hedge.

Photo credit: AnRo0002, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)