While most hawthorns are at their best in spring, Prunifolia Splendens offers excellent autumn colours as the dark green leaves turn yellow and gold.
The small red haws stay on the tree well into autumn, and are a useful resource for wildlife.
The spring blossom is white.
Prunifolia Splendens is a good choice for coastal areas, as it tolerates salty winds.
If you have rabbits in the vicinity be sure to protect the trees, as rabbits like to eat young hawthorn bark.
If planting 1-year bare-root hawthorns, cut the main stem at about 1.5m - 1.75m to stimulate side shoots the following year. Pot-grown trees have already had this formative training at the nursery and do not need pruning.
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.
This variety description was researched and written by Orange Pippin staff. Last checked: 2022.