If your looking to liven your garden up in the most vibrant of ways, a horticultural expert claims she has identified the “most outstanding plant” that will transform your outdoor space for “years to come”.
Gardening expert Bex Edwards took to TikTok to explain why you should add a Weeping Cherry Blossom tree – also known as Cherry Kiku Shidare Zakura – to your garden now. “Just look at these gorgeous weeping branches covered in that beautiful pink blossom,” she began in a video alongside a series of photographic illustrations.
Holding a root aloft, Bex continued: “They come to you as a bare root plant – there’s no pot or compost – it’s in a dormant state.” However, she pointed out that despite it’s appearance, her root is “absolutely alive” after scratching it’s surface to reveal green growth underneath the bark.
“It means the plant is alive, it’s just fast asleep and all you need to do is wake it up,” Bex explained. To do so, she advised that you should place the roots in a bucket of water and soak them over night in order to give them a “good drink” and prepare them for planting.
“They want a sunny spot in the garden where they can go in the ground – or you can put them in a pot or container,” Bex said. “Ultimately, it could reach between two and four metres in height – but you don’t have to let it get that big – I’m going to be gowing mine in a container to keep it slightly smaller.”
As for timing, Bex pointed out that the Weeping Cherry Blossom is winter-hardy and can therefore now is the perfect time to plant it. “Now is bare root planting season,” she explained. “It lasts between the end of October and end of March/early April – that’s the only time you can plant bare roots.”
Planting now ensures that by springtime, the branches will be covered in the pink blossom. “As it grows and matures, you are going to get those beautiful weeping branches,” Bex enthused. “It’s going to be magnificent.
Bex provided further information in her clip’s caption, adding: “Also known as Cheal’s Weeping, this deciduous beauty bursts into life in early spring with burnished-bronze leaves, quickly followed by clusters of pretty pink, double flowers that completely smother each elegant, arching branch.
“It has a very pronounced weeping habit, so perfect for smaller gardens.Then, as you sit out in your garden in mid-summer, you’ll see the leaves turn glossy and green, then fade to fiery orange-red in a jaw-dropping autumn show. Simply spectacular.”
Writing in response, one TikTok user queried: “If you put in a large pot how high would you suggest you let it grow then do you just chop off the main stem at the top?” To which Bex advised: “For chop the main stem, just light pruning on the branches- they don’t like a hard prune.”
A second person asked: “Why do bare root plants need to be planted in this season? I had never heard of that but find it fascinating!” Bex advised in reply: “It’s because they’re dormant at this time of year, they can’t be lifted in the summer as it would kill them.”
And a third pondered: “When would you expect it to bloom, will it take a couple of years? It’s gorgeous.” Bex revealed: “I would expect some first year, but it’ll obviously look better as it grows bigger.”
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