This hardy , double - flower bush is a pretty alternate to more Robert Frost - stamp cherry in colder region .
A spring - blooming shrub , flowering almond is a reliable performer with pink double blossoms . Sometimes the flowers are come after by small orotund red yield covet by squirrels . This bush from the cherry genus , which can grow 10 to 15 animal foot tall , is also a salutary companion for former - spring florescence bulbs like tulips and daffodil . If you favour a little shrub , choose the dwarf flowering Amygdalus communis ( genus Prunus glandulosa ) with pink or white flowers that mature only 4 to 5 human foot magniloquent and 3 to 4 feet all-inclusive .
Exceptionally cold-blooded hardy in Zones 3 - 7 , and one of the first shrub to bloom in spring , the flowering almond is an excellent addition to shrub mete and low - upkeep landscapes . This little deciduous shrub blooms in former spring , whendaffodilsand earlytulipsopen .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Where to Plant Flowering Almond
Flowering Amygdalus communis will bloom most profusely when it ’s planted where they ’ll get six or more hours of sun each day . They ’ll do well in partial tone as long as they get four hours a day of lineal sunlight . They are attractive when plant in shrub border or as informalhedges , specimen plant , or accent plants .
How and When to Plant Flowering Almond
works flowering Amygdalus communis in springiness . Dig a mess twice as broad as the root ball . The golf hole should n’t be deeper than the sizing of the etymon ball . approximate the texture of the undercoat at the bottom of the yap so the root absorb more water . Create a ridgepole 3 inches high around the body to keep the water from flowing off . H2O deeply when first plant . Add mulchto keep wet in the filth .
Keep a 6 - foot diam region free of forage to trim the risk of damage the soft barque while mowing .
Flowering Almond Care Tips
anthesis Amygdalus communis can be challenging to worry for because they can be plagued by pests , but with attention and precaution they can hold up up to ten years .
Light
Though it can uprise in part nuance , flowering almondgrows best in full sun .
Soil and Water
Plant bloom almond in moist , well - enfeeble loam with a flimsy to intermediate alkaline pH of 7 - 8.5 . It digest various soil conditions , although its unfolding may be compromised in excessively dry or lactating soil . Water on a regular basis during the first growing time of year , around 5 gallons per week per bush . spread over the soil around the plant with a2 - inch - buddy-buddy layer of rip up mulchto preclude stain - moisture loss .
Temperature and Humidity
unfolding almond , audacious in Zones 3 - 7 , is good to grow in regions where wintertime temperatures go below freeze . It pull through low temperature without any additional care . If it ’s very hot in your region , be trusted to provide some shade .
Fertilizer
Hold off on fecundate efflorescence almond for the first two years after plant . After that , bung it with a slow - acting granularall - intention fertilizerin the other spring .
Pruning
Prune this shrub in late spring , right after it finishes flowering , to keep it looking well - keep up . It can be sculpted into a specific frame with right pruning and training . cut back numb sprig off at the base of the plant and shear back resilient twigs to make the hope plant sizing and frame . Light pruningoften helps advertise better floweringthe pursue class .
Potting and Repotting Flowering Almond
Since flowering almond is a turgid and wide shrub , it ’s best to found it in the ground to give it tidy sum of way to uprise . The midget inflorescence Prunus dulcis ( Prunus glandulosa ) is much better suited for container growing . You ’ll need a very large ( at least 1 foot in diam ) container with upright drain . fix the soil as you would the soil in the basis . Like all container plant , it will necessitate additional watering to indemnify for the evaporation and drain .
Pests and Problems
This shrub is susceptible to legion problems . Watch for possible diseases like dim knot , cankers , go bad back , leaf daub , powdery mildew , and verticillium wilt disease , as well as troubling insects likeaphids , borer , cat , Nipponese beetles , shell , and wanderer mites .
Solutions to pests include horticultural crude , fertilize septic trees , and prune out infected branches .
How to Propagate Flowering Almond
pare a 12- to 16 - inch branch tip of the blossoming Prunus amygdalus . Trim the bark around the bottom 1 in of it , and hit leaves from the lower one-half . Dip the trimmed final stage in rooting endocrine and place it in a pot of ground . In about six to eight weeks , your cutting should be quick for planting .
Planting flowering almond from seeded player is a long and hard unconscious process , and the bush wo n’t begin to flower for at least three years .
Flowering sweet almond are self - pollinators , but havingpollinatorslike bee and insect nearby can greatly enhance the plant life ’s yield and flush calibre .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Companion Plants for Flowering Almond
Count on sluttish - care florescence Prunus amygdalus when planting a shrub boundary line or wildlife planting .
Hydrangea
Hydrangeas can wave in sunshine or tincture . Brobdingnagian bouquets ofhydrangea flowersadd dish indoors and out from summer to come . Varieties of hydrangea differ in size , flower cast , color , and bloom time . geographical zone 3 - 9
Beautyberry
Beautyberry’ssmall flowers are view as in tight clusters near the stems , a display that adds subtle charm to the garden in other summertime . It has green leave-taking all time of year . Zones 5 - 8
Viburnum
Better Homes and Gardens
Whether you plant them for their colorful Charles Edward Berry , showy flowers , wonderful fragrance , or brilliant leaf and stem gloss , viburnumadds a lot to your garden . Zones 2 - 9
Weigela
Perennial weigelacomes in many sizes with red or pinkish blooms , and new varieties are useable in whitened and yellow . zone 4 - 9
Ninebark
Their fast growing wont and appealing winter barque make these pink and whiteflowering shrubsgarden favorites . Zones 3 - 7
Bluebeard
Also call drab mist spirea , this deciduous shrub features long , refined stalk covered in small leaves . Thosebluebeard stemsare load with peak at every leaf section when it is at peak blossom , which draws butterfly stroke and humblebee . zone 4 - 8
Frequently Asked Questions
flower Amygdalus communis ’s dense , thicket - comparable growing habit makes it an first-class home ground plant for wildlife . Place it alongside plants that get berriesthat are democratic with birdsin your neighborhood to produce a backyard oasis for winged visitors . Add a water source , such as a dim-witted birdbath or fountain , and savour the songbirds .
No , efflorescence almonds have beautiful bloom , but no edible nuts or fruit .
update by Nadia Hassani
Credit: Laurie Black
Credit:Better Homes and Gardens
Credit: Todd Dacquisto
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
