Prunus mume Beni Chidori

Prunus mume 'Beni Shidori' is a compact variety, ornamental with its early flowering on bare wood, with delicate bright carmine pink single flowers, well scented and topped with long white stamens. This small tree has a spreading, rounded habit and bears fine, airy and elegant branches, highlighted by its silvery grey bark. Its flowering occurs very early in February-March before the appearance of its large deciduous leaves which are shiny dark green. Its small green-yellow fruits, resembling plums in appearance, colour the branches from late May. They are edible but have a quite acidic and bitter taste. Easy to grow in ordinary to rich, deep, well-drained and moist soil, in full sun. Hardy beyond -15°C (5°F), plant it in a sheltered position away from cold winds which could compromise its flowering. It is a variety whose size is perfectly suited for smaller gardens, either isolated, in the back of a shrub bed or in a large pot on a patio.

Japanese apricot 'Beni Shidori' is one of the main cultivars of Prunus mume, distinguished by its very compact growth and early flowering in bright carmine pink and scented. All these small trees belong to the large family of Rosaceae and are widespread in China and Japan where their fruits are used for culinary preparations, notably Japanese plum wine. Prunus mume is a deciduous tree of small to medium size, reaching 6 to 10 metres (20 to 33 feet), displaying an airy, highly graphic silhouette. Its winter flowering is spectacular and very graceful. The 'Beni Shidori' cultivar, smaller in size, reaches an average height of 3 to 5 metres (10 to 16 feet) and a width of 3 to 4 metres. It develops a rounded habit with widely spreading branches, covered with a shining silvery grey bark. Flowering takes place in February-March, more or less early depending on the region. The single flowers, solitary or in clusters of 2, have 5 rounded petals and are suspended by a short peduncle. They open in a bright carmine pink, with corollas measuring 2 to 3 cm (1in) in diameter. The flowers, scented and nectar-rich, are followed by the formation of small round fruits of yellow-green colour, bitter in taste but edible. The deciduous foliage is composed of alternate, shiny dark green leaves, broadly ovate and toothed, measuring 6 to 10 cm (2 to 4in) long.

Its small size and graceful habit, enhanced by silvery branches, make this Japanese apricot suitable for being planted as a specimen. Dazzling from the first beautiful days of spring, requiring very little maintenance, this small tree is suitable for small gardens, where it will be particularly highlighted in the center of a bed of perennials whose flowering will take over, from spring to summer. Perfectly hardy, it can be grown in many regions, but dislikes compact and clay soils or arid situations. For example, in a large mixed hedge or in a bed, it can be associated with other flowering cherry trees, ornamental apple trees, flowering peach trees, Chinese almond tree, hawthorns, Japanese apricot (Prunus mume)... A carpet of blue hyacinths, liverworts or blue grape hyacinths would be very effective at its base.