Prunus nipponica var. kurilensis Ruby - Kuril Cherry

The Prunus kurilensis 'Ruby', also known as the Kuril Islands Cherry, is a small tree that can be planted to admire its fabulous flowering that marks the end of winter, as well as its brilliant autumn foliage. Its simple flowers, of a bold pink, surrounded by a red calyx, bloom abundantly before the appearance of the foliage. A beautiful flowering bush with sturdy upright branches, dense but with modest dimensions, it has a place in all gardens, even the smallest. Give it a sunny exposure and an ordinary soil, but one that is well-drained and not too dry.

The Prunus kurilensis (synonyms Cerasus kurilensis, Prunus nipponica f. kurilensis), from the large family of rosaceae, is a very hardy species (-25°C (-13°F)) endemic to the Kuril Islands, located in the far north of Japan, as well as the island of Sakhalin. The 'Ruby' cultivar is a Dutch horticultural creation dating back to 1958. Slow but regular growth, it has a shrubby habit, dense and spreading, supported by thick, sturdy, upright branches. At maturity, it will not exceed 3m (10ft) in height, reaching approximately 2m (7ft) in width at the top of the crown. In February or March depending on the region, before the appearance of the foliage, numerous almost red floral buds appear on the previous year's branches, which open into small flowers with 5 bright lilac-pink petals and yellow stamens, visited by bees. The corolla is surrounded by a calyx of almost red, giving the flowering an overall deep pink colour. The flowers give way to small fruits called drupes, highly sought after by birds. The deciduous foliage is composed of entire, alternate, lanceolate leaves, 4 to 7 cm (2 to 3in) long, finely toothed at the edges. They are bronzed in spring, green in summer, and turn orange and reddish-purple in autumn.

Slow-growing, of modest stature, and requiring very little maintenance, this bush is suitable for small gardens, where it will be particularly highlighted when planted alone or at the center of a perennial bed whose flowering will take over from spring to summer. You can also plant it in a bed or as a free hedge. The perfectly hardy Prunus kurilensis 'Ruby' can be grown in many regions, but dislikes compact and clayey soils or excessively dry conditions. For example, in a hedge or bed, it can be associated with other spring-flowering shrubs, simultaneous or staggered, such as forsythias, Japanese quinces, Honeysuckle (Lonicera xylosteum), ornamental apple trees, flowering peaches, Chinese almond trees, hawthorns, etc.