Prunus incisa Ko Jo No Mai also known as The Flight of the Butterflies

One of my all-time favourite shrubs which is delightful for many reasons.

You have the rich red autumn colour.

You have the twisted stems which make a wonderful show in the winter.

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You have its compact habit, it can grow 4 feet by 4 feet in 15 years.

Amazing bell like flowers, hanging in clusters on bare stems in late winter and into spring.  The flowers are almost white, but 20 years ago when it was first introduced, the flowers had much more pink in them.

Remember technically that the plant is related to roses and therefore it needs to be positioned away from any rosaceous root systems, so ideally away from established Orchard Trees (Apple Cherry Etc), Laurels, Hawthorn, Pyracantha, Cotoneaster, Roses, Spiraea, Sorbus or Mountain Ash, Etc Etc.

Before you position it, it is worth doing your homework on the surrounding plants to it, to ensure a happy, long and healthy planting arrangement.

The position also needs to have lots of the afternoon sun on it and good drainage in the soil as this dwarf flowering cherry really hates being waterlogged.  Those of you with heavy soils, it may be worth creating a mound of soil and planting on that, therefore the top part of the root system is always aerated.

This particular plant in the photograph is getting sun from 11 o'clock onwards and the soil is very stony.  It has been planted there are five years, starting from a 3 litre pot.

Having worked for many years in the garden centre industry, and having the plant as one of my bread and butter plants, it is also fantastic in larger tubs, containers and half barrels.

If you do use a planter, then a loam-based compost with grit mixed into it is ideal.  At the Shell

This looks fantastic with snowdrops and crocus underneath it, so why not have a go and let us know what you think of this delightful.  Good luck

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