Prunus serrula Tree

Prunus serrula is a magnificent tree for year round interest with its eye-catching polished, tactile bark. The smooth, mahogany bark peels in translucent cinnamon and honey coloured sheets to reveal a fresh new hue of bronze-red gloss beneath. Caught in autumn sunlight this tree almost glows.

The willow-like, narrow foliage of Prunus serrula displays an intense mid/dark-green colour, turning a lovely rich yellow in the autumn. In April-May, small white flowers are produced and although not the most prominent, are a pleasant addition to the stunning bark and interesting foliage. It justly deserves the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Also known as the Tibetan Cherry tree, this small ornamental tree will grow to 5 x 4 metres in 20 years when grown as a single stem. It's ideal for small spaces, particularly in urban settings as it's tolerant of pollution. The Tibetan Cherry grows well in most conditions but it's best to avoid wet or shallow, chalky sites.

AKA P. serrula, Tibetan cherry tree, Birch bark cherry, Paperbark cherry

• Common name: Tibetan Cherry tree
• Awards: RHS Award of Garden Merit
• Height and spread in 20 years: 5 x 4 metres
• Bark: Glossy bark gives year round interest, particularly in winter
• Flowers: Small, pretty white flowers in spring
• Foliage: Dark green foliage turns yellow and red in autumn
• Soil: Tolerates most types except very wet or chalky soils

Planting Advice For Prunus serrula Trees

Tibetan Cherry trees can cope with locations exposed to some wind and pollution.

Our pot grown Tibetan Cherry can be planted at any time of the year. Start by removing weeds and grass within a metre of your desired planting hole. Dig a square hole as deep as your root mass and approximately 1.5x as wide. To help the tree establish more effectively, sprinkle root grow in the hole. Remove the pot, gently loosen the roots and place into the planting hole.

Mix 50% of the original soil with 50% high quality compost. Use this to fill in the hole and firm around gently, avoiding banking soil up around the collar of the tree. We recommend planting Tibetan Cherry trees (except multi-stem forms) with a stake and tie kit to ensure the roots are well anchored - instructions can be found in the online planting guide.

After Care Advice For Prunus serrula Trees

When planting Tibetan Cherry trees in spring, summer or dry weather, water well for the first few months. Increase watering if there are extended periods of hot or dry weather. When planting in autumn, you may only need to water a little. Irrigation kits make watering easier.

Once planted, keep the area free of competing weeds and grass for the first couple of growing seasons. If your area is prone to rabbits, use a rabbit guard.

Pruning Advice For Prunus serrula Trees

Carrying out formative pruning of Tibetan Cherry trees for the first few years is recommended. It will help create a more balanced branch framework and lead to a healthier tree that will require less maintenance pruning in future.

After two to three years, you will only need to remove any damaged, diseased or crossing branches. Prune after flowering i.e. after the petals have dropped but before the new shoot growth appears.

Delivery Costs

1 small tree (most under 1.5 metres in height) : £9.95 + vat

1 medium tree (most 1.5-2 metres in height) or 2-4 small trees: £11.95 + vat

2+ medium trees or 5+ small trees: £14.95 + vat

1-4 trees delivered by pallet to kerbside (inc. mature Japanese Maples): 24.95 + vat

Mature trees, pleached trees or orders too large for pallet: Cost is calculated in the checkout process and varies by postcode not quantity. Starts from £48 + vat.

The above prices exclude the Scottish Highlands, where delivery starts from £24.95 + vat and is calculated in the checkout process. Please note, we are unable to deliver outside of Mainland UK.

Delivery Timescales

All trees are carefully packed by our experienced team and most are delivered within 3 weeks of placing the order, unless stated otherwise. Due to a high volume of orders, current lead time is 3-5 weeks. There's no need to be in to receive your order and you can request where it is left via the checkout.

For pleached and mature trees (trees over 2.5m in height), we group orders together by geographic area for specialist delivery - we will contact these customers about the delivery date.

Trees on pre-order are still growing and an estimate of when they will be ready is on the product/basket page. Orders are despatched once all trees are ready.

Gift trees and those required by a specific date can be accommodated with pleasure, although we accept no legal responsibility for late deliveries.

Our nursery is a busy despatch centre, so please make an appointment to collect or view trees.  For collections, despatch charges will be refunded.

The product table at the bottom of the page gives the forms and sizes available for this variety. Please note, photos are a guideline as all plants are unique. Below are definitions of terms:

Supplied Size: Height measured from the top of the pot.

Single Stem / Pruned and shaped: Classic shaped tree with a single stem that has had pruning to help create a beautiful, natural shape.

Top grafted: A height noted next to this form refers to the length of clear stem, which will not grow taller. Only the head of branches will develop. Top grafted trees do not require complicated pruning and are ideal for small spaces.

Feathered: A feathered tree has branches from the bottom of the trunk all the way up. These branches can be removed if a clear stem is required.

Multi Stem: A multi stem tree has two or more stems arising from or near ground level, growing from one root system.

Bush: A plant with many stems low down, rather than one clear stem.

Clump: Several plants in one pot that can give the appearance of a multi stemmed and very bushy tree.

Climber: A plant that is a natural climber and will be delivered usually running up a bamboo cane, ready to position in the garden.

Standard Tree: A more mature tree with an upright clear stem of approximately 1.8m-2.0m (measured from the soil to the lowest branches of the crown). Standards are available in different forms relating to their girth size (circumference of the stem measured 1m above soil level), not height:

Standard  either 6-10cm or 8-10cm girth, approximately 2.5-3.0m in height
Premium Standard  10-12cm girth, approximately 3.0-3.5m in height
Heavy Standard  12-14cm girth, approximately 3.5-4.5m in height
Extra Heavy Standard 14-16cm girth approximately 4.0-6m in height