Prunus Flowers

Prunus Flowers - Tree White And Rose Flowers Uk

Name : Prunus Flowers
Latin Name : Genus: Prunus, (Prunus cerisifera)
Prunus Description

Prunus is a genus comprising of 430 species of trees and shrubs in the rose family Rosaceae, including the plums, cherries, peaches, apricots and almonds. Prunus varieties are spread throughout the northern temperate regions of the globe and also found in mountainous regions of Africa and Asia. Most of the Ornamental Cherries, originate in Japan, although there is one native English species, the white flowered Bird Cherry Prunus padus.

Prunus trees are known for their ornamental foliage and beautiful flowers, usually white to pink, with five petals and five sepals. These blossoms may be borne singly or in umbels of two to six or sometimes more on racemes. Prunus leaves are simple and usually lanceolate, unlobed and toothed along the margin; these leaves are of different hues ranging from shades of green to dark red depending on the variety. The leaves usually acquire vibrant shades of orange and red in autumn.

The delicate Prunus blossoms are fragrant and come in a variety of shades of white, pink, crimson, or soft orange. Most Prunus species bloom from late winter to early summer; from March to May, although one, Prunus autumnalis, carries delicate pink or white blossoms on its bare branches from October or November right through until March. In Britain, most of the ornamental cherries are at their very best in April, covered in an abundance of spectacular flowers.

Prunus prefers a moist, well-drained and slightly acidic soil in full sun. Prunus varieties propagate differently according to their type: the fruiting plants by grafting and the ornamental plants by grafts or in some cases by cuttings.

Many varieties of this genus are cultivated for their edible fruits and nuts like cherries, plums and almonds, but there are also a number of species, hybrids, and cultivars grown as ornamental plants, usually for their profusion of flowers, sometimes for ornamental foliage and shape, and occasionally for their bark. These decorative varieties come in all sizes to suit any garden size and include the group that may be collectively called flowering cherries, including sakura, the Japanese flowering cherries. Other Prunus varieties like Blackthorn are grown for hedging, game cover, and other utilitarian purposes.

Many Prunus varieties are known to produce an aromatic resin from wounds in the trunk which has medicinal value. They are also used in dye production. Prunus flower petals can be dried to make a delicious tea. Pygeum is a herbal remedy containing extracts from the bark of the variety Prunus africana and is used to alleviate some of the discomfort caused by inflammation in patients suffering from Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Although the fruits of some varieties are edible, seeds, leaves and other parts may be toxic, some highly.

Prunus varieties are excellent ornamental plants, prized for their exquisite, fragrant flowers and fruit, and pruned for bonsai, twin-trunk or clump shapes, or left upright. Ornamental Prunus is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds, thus further beautifying your garden and filling it with blissful sights and sounds. Use the ornamental Prunus to add a dark accent to your landscape, as a small shade tree, or a focal point in a garden planter or in the front of the house.

Prunus varieties are excellent as cut flowers as well and have a long vase life. They look divine in bouquets and add colour and fragrance to the surroundings. Their year round availability is yet another reason to choose them for your special day. They make excellent gifts and are rich with symbolism, and you’ll find the perfect Prunus for just about every occasion.

The Prunus cerisifera, commonly known as the Ornamental Plum or The Purple Leafed Plum is one of the most popular trees due to its colorful flowers and foliage. The ornamental plums with their dark foliage and cheerful flowers offer the perfect addition of colour contrast to any landscape design. These ornamental trees are small-growing so that they easily fit in most gardens and are usually not very difficult to grow. With dark coloured leaves and pink or white flowers, this variety requires little trimming or other care.

Other popular varieties include the Prunus Kanzan with big bold double pink flowers and lovely copper tinted foliage when young; Prunus shirotae has single or semi-double white flowers and coppery young foliage; Prunus sargentii has big clusters of clear pink flower and is notable for its bright autumn leaf colour, the bronze red young leaves turning orange and crimson in early autumn; Prunus serrula has fairly unspectacular white flowers but a splendid, shining, bright red-brown peeling bark. Prunus Kiku shidare or Cheal’s Weeping Cherry has deep pink double flowers that crowd the arching, trailing branches in March and April.

Prunus Meaning

Prunus varieties are rich in symbolism and different species have come to be associated with different meanings.

The Cherry Blossom is a symbol of Good education and Spiritual Beauty
The Bird cherry-tree signifies Perfidy
Wild Prune means Independence
Prune-tree signifies Promise
Blackthorn (Sloe) means Asceticism or Difficulty
The Flowering Almond means Hope and Contemplation
Apricot Blossom signifies Diffident love
Plum Blossom symbolizes Fidelity and Keeping promises
The Peach Blossom denotes Generosity
The Cherry Laurel signifies the meaning Perseverance

Prunus Mythology

In Greek Mythology, Prunus amygdalus or the Almond tree, comes from the Greek word Amugdalea and is sacred to Attis. According to legend, in Phrygia there was born a hermaphroditic deity named Agdistis; the gods were fearful and castrated it creating the goddess Kybele. The genitals were thrown down to earth where they sprouted and grew into an almond tree. Once the nymph Nana was sitting beneath its branches and a nut fell into her lap and impregnated her. The child so conceived was Attis, who grew up to became the consort of the goddess Kybele.

The Himalayan wild cherry is considered sacred in Hindu mythology as well.