Prunus incisa Paean - Cherry

The Prunus incisa 'Paean' is a variety of Japanese flowering cherry tree that is interesting for its early, generous, and colorful flowering starting in March, as well as for its very modest growth that allows it to fit in small gardens or in a large pot on the terrace. Its numerous small flowers in two shades of pink, darker in the center, enclosed in a bright pink calyx, bloom before the appearance of the young copper-toned leaves. In summer, the foliage is light green and takes on sumptuous autumnal shades of red-orange. 'Paean' is an easy variety to grow in the sun, in ordinary but well-drained soil.

The Prunus incisa, commonly called Dwarf Japanese Flowering Cherry, is a very hardy tree of modest size, belonging to the large Rosaceae family. In its natural environment, it is spontaneous on the slopes of Mount Fuji in Japan. The 'Paean' cultivar shows particularly reduced development, slow growth, and shallow rooting, well suited for container cultivation. At maturity, it will not exceed 2m (6 ft 7 in) in all directions. With a naturally bushy and dense habit, it develops branches with an interesting pattern, appreciated by bonsai enthusiasts. The flowering takes place very early in spring, sometimes as early as February in the south of our country. In average climates, it generally occurs from March to April. The flowers, produced profusely, bloom before the leaves, suspended by a short peduncle on well-defined branches. They emerge from deep pink buds and open into simple corollas measuring 2cm (0.8 in) in diameter, with a fresh pink color punctuated with dark pink at the center. The calyx, at the base of the corolla, is of a fairly intense pink. This flowering attracts pollinating insects that allow the flowers to transform into small drupes resembling violet to black cherries, sought after by birds but not edible for humans. The deciduous foliage is composed of alternate leaves, 3 to 6cm (1.2 to 2.4 in) long, oval-shaped, finely and deeply toothed along the edges. Colored copper and bronze at budburst, they become light green in summer before turning orange to red in autumn in this 'Paean' variety.

Its tortuous line drawn by sinuous branches makes the flowering cherry tree suitable for bonsai cultivation. With slow growth, this small tree, a symbol of renewal, is suitable for small gardens as well as for container cultivation on a terrace. You can plant it in flowerbeds or as a standalone tree, as a free-standing hedge or even in a row. 'Paean', not demanding, is satisfied in well-prepared ordinary soil, tolerates heat and the presence of limestone in the soil. It can be grown in most climates. For example, it can be associated with other spring-flowering shrubs in a hedge or flowerbed, simultaneously or staggered, such as ornamental apple trees, flowering peaches, Chinese almond trees, hawthorns... It naturally finds its place in a Japanese garden, in a sunny location.