Prunus maackii Amber Beauty

Prunus maackii Amber Beauty is a variety of Manchurian Cherry selected for the great beauty of its bark, and its slightly smaller size compared to the wild species. Combining qualities, this hardy small tree will delight with its shiny bark, of a superb bronzed copper and amber colour, which peels off beautifully. In spring, it offers clusters of delicately scented white flowers, followed by small black fruits. Its airy crown provides a light shade, very pleasant in summer, and its foliage turns golden yellow at the end of the season. This small tree tolerates both intense cold and hot, dry summers. It can be planted in a medium-sized or large garden, in an informal hedge or in a grove.

Prunus maackii, from the large family of Rosaceae, is native to a vast area ranging from Korea to neighbouring Chinese regions and eastern Siberia. Able to withstand Siberian winters, it is hardy down to -40°C (1°F). The 'Amber Beauty' variety was obtained in 1968 in the Netherlands by  Van der Bom, Oudenbosch. This cherry tree, with rapid growth, forms in a short time a small tree with a single or multiple trunk supporting an open, ovoid crown, supported by upright and few branches. At maturity, it will reach 6 to 7m (20 to 23ft) in height with a spread of about 4.50m. The trunk, as well as the old branches, are covered with a very beautiful shiny bark, mixing warm tones, which peels off in flakes. The pleasantly fragrant flowering takes place in April, on the previous year's wood. It consists of upright, short and dense clusters, called raceme. Each cluster consists of very small cream-white flowers with five petals. This nectar-rich flowering is followed by the formation of small black, dry fruits. The young leaves appear before the flowers, they are downy when they open. They unfold into leaves measuring 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4in) long, ovate and pointed in shape, with dentate margins. They are medium green in summer and turn yellow before falling.

This easy-to-grow small tree only dislikes excessively wet, clay and compact soils, or excessively dry ones. It will naturally find its place in a free, flowering, rustic hedge or in a group of trees. It will grow in most of regions. For example, in a hedge or in a flower bed, it can be associated with other spring-flowering shrubs, which will flower simultaneous or staggered, such as ornamental apple trees, lilacs, Prunus mahaleb, field maple, quinces, medlars, dogwoods, viburnums, hawthorns...