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Spire

Prunus
Prunus Spire flowering cherry blossom
Spire has received the RHS Award of Garden Merit

Spire is a compact pink blossom tree. The flowers have a soft pale pink sheen, and are usually single (less than 10 petals) but often semi-double (having more than 10 petals).

The tree grows with a strong upright vase-like form, and is a good choice for smaller spaces. Its proportions are similar to the well-known fastigiate cherry, Prunus Amanogawa, but its upright form arguably ages better.

The leaves emerge at about the same time as the blossom and are initially a pale copper-green colour, becoming green over the summer, and then taking on strong orange-red tints in the autumn.

Spire flowering cherry trees for sale

  • 11-year bare-root tree £46.50
    Medium size (2.5m-3.5m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
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  • 22-year pot-grown tree £70.00
    In a 12L pot
    Medium size (2.5m-3.5m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
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History

Spire was developed at the Hillier Nursery in the 1920s and introduced in 1956. It is related to Prunus sargentii.

Spire characteristics

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • AwardsRHS AGM (current) - 1993
  • Attractive featuresAttractive flowersAutumn foliage colour
  • Growth habitUpright
  • Height after 10 years2.5m-3.5m / 8ft-12ft
  • PruningLight prune
  • Growth rateAverage
  • Flower colourPink - light
  • Flower formSemi-double flower (10-20 petals)
  • Flowering monthMay
  • Leaf colourGreen
  • Leaf colour - autumnOrange / Red
  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Annual cycleDeciduous

Similar varieties

  • See also Amanogawa
    Prunus
    Amanogawa
    The definitive columnar flowing cherry, widely grown in the UK.
  • See also Sunset Boulevard
    Prunus
    Sunset Boulevard
    A large flowering cherry tree with a distinctive columnar form, and large single white flowers.

What will it look like?

Illustrative example of a pot-grown tree of this variety as supplied. Approximate girth: 6/8cm. We try to keep all pot-grown trees down to about 1.5m as supplied, but some may be larger. Trees should reach their mature height after about 10 or more years. We may also have 1-year bare-root trees of this variety - they are not shown here.

Prunus Okame flowering cherry tree

How to choose a flowering cherry tree

We list more than 70 different flowering cherry trees. Choosing can be difficult! Our article explaining the different characteristics of flowering cherries might help narrow down the selection.