Tree comparisons
 Prunus himalaica | Magnolia Black Beauty | Maple Rubrum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A flowering cherry, but grown primarily for the stunning copper striped bark. | Black Beauty features very dark purple tulip-shaped flowers with white centres, appearing on bare branches. | One of the best forms of the Cappadocian Maple, featuring a range of leaf colours from spring to autumn. | |
| remove | remove | remove |
Growing
| Flowering cherry tree Prunus himalaica | Magnolia Black Beauty | Maple Rubrum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardening skill | Beginner | Beginner | |
| Awards | RHS AGM (current) | ||
| Attractive features | Attractive flowers Attractive bark | Attractive flowers | Attractive tree / plant Autumn foliage colour |
| Growth habit | Columnar / Fastigiate | Upright-spreading / Vase | Upright-spreading / Vase |
| Height after 10 years | 2.5m-3.5m / 8ft-12ft | 3m-5m / 10ft-16ft | 3m-5m / 10ft-16ft |
| Sunlight | Prefers full sun Some shade | Tolerates shade | |
| Pruning | Light prune | Prune after flowering | Light prune |
| Growth rate | Average | Slow | |
| Site conditions | Sheltered site Free-draining site |
Identification
| Flowering cherry tree Prunus himalaica | Magnolia Black Beauty | Maple Rubrum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flower colour | White | Purple | |
| Flower form | Single flower (5-8 petals) | Single flower (5-8 petals) | |
| Flowering month | April | April | April |
| Leaf colour | Green | Green | Green |
| Leaf colour - autumn | Green | Yellow | |
| Leaf/Flower sequence | Flowers appear first | ||
| Bark | Copper / Purple | ||
| Country of origin | United States | ||
| Annual cycle | Deciduous | Deciduous | Deciduous |