UNUSUAL TREE

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29828, 22 May 1962, Page 12

UNUSUAL TREE

Two Flowerings A Year A small tree, which has for years amazed persons who know it by flowering twice every 12 months, has been identified for its owners. Mr and Mrs G. W. Marsh, of 298 Riccarton road, by Mr S. Challenger, gardening correspondent of ’The Press.” The tree, about eight or nine feet high, has a very small pink flower, similar to that of the flowering cherry tree. Twice each year, in the autumn and spring, the tree flowers. “The best blossoms occur in the spring, about October, but as usual each year it is flowering again now," Mrs Marsh said yesterday. The flowering period lasted foe about three weeks each time, she said. Mr and Mrs Marsh have lived at 298 Riccarton road for about seven years and the tree was well established when they arrived. It is believed to be about 15 years old. and according to persons who have been in the neighbourhood during that period it has flowered twice annually for most of the time. Mr Challenger says the tree is Prunus subhirtella autumnalis. or autumnflowering cherry, of Japanese origin. It is rare in private gardens, but is sometimes seen in botanic gardens The tree will flower throughout the winter if it is sufficiently mild. A cold spell would usually check it. It has a life of from 20 to 25 years, and a specimen of eight or nine feet high would be a good one.