This hardy, double-blossoming shrub is a pretty alternative to more frost-tender cherries in colder regions.
A spring-blooming shrub, flowering almond is a reliable performer with pink double blossoms.
Sometimes the flowers are followed by small round red fruit coveted by squirrels.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
This small deciduous shrub blooms in early spring, whendaffodilsand earlytulipsopen.
They’ll do well in partial shade as long as they get four hours a day of direct sunlight.
They are attractive when planted in shrub borders or as informalhedges, specimen plants, or accent plants.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
How and When to Plant Flowering Almond
Plant flowering almonds in spring.
Rough the texture of the ground at the bottom of the hole so the roots absorb more water.
Create a ridge 3 inches high around the trunk to keep the water from flowing away.
Credit: Laurie Black
Water deeply when first planting.Add mulchto keep moisture in the soil.
Keep a 6-foot diameter area free of grass to reduce the risk of damaging the soft bark while mowing.
Light
Though it can grow in part shade, flowering almondgrows best in full sun.
Credit:Better Homes and Gardens
It tolerates various soil conditions, although its flowering may be compromised in excessively dry or wet soil.
Water regularly during the first growing season, around 5 gallons per week per shrub.
Cover the soil around the plant with a2-inch-thick layer of shredded mulchto prevent soil-moisture loss.
Credit: Todd Dacquisto
It survives low temperatures without any additional care.
If it’s very hot in your region, be sure to provide some shade.
Fertilizer
Hold off on fertilizing flowering almonds for the first two years after planting.
Credit: Denny Schrock
After that, feed it with a slow-acting granularall-purpose fertilizerin the early spring.
It can be sculpted into a specific shape with proper pruning and training.
Light pruningoften helps promote better floweringthe following year.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
The dwarf flowering almond (Prunus glandulosa) is much better suited for container growing.
You’ll need a very large (at least 1 foot in diameter) container with good drainage.
Prepare the soil as you would the soil in the ground.
Like all container plants, it will need additional watering to compensate for the evaporation and drainage.
Pests and Problems
This shrub is susceptible to numerous problems.
Solutions to pests include horticultural oils, fertilize infected trees, and prune out infected branches.
How to Propagate Flowering Almond
Trim a 12- to 16-inch branch tip of the flowering almond.
Trim the bark around the bottom 1 inch of it, and remove leaves from the lower half.
Dip the trimmed end in rooting hormone and place it in a pot of soil.
In about six to eight weeks, your cutting should be ready for planting.
Hydrangea
Hydrangeas can flourish in sun or shade.
Huge bouquets ofhydrangea flowersadd beauty indoors and out from summer to fall.
Varieties of hydrangea differ in size, flower shape, color, and bloom time.
It has green leaves all season.
Add a water source, such as a simple birdbath or fountain, and enjoy the songbirds.
No, flowering almonds have beautiful flowers, but no edible nuts or fruit.
