Cercis chinensis

A great tree for a small garden. And if your garden is not small…still great. A really unusual and very beautiful flowering tree from China that enjoys our climate very much, reaching around 2.5 metres high and the same wide after a decent 20 years or so. Deciduous, with luscious green heart-shaped leaves that are a zingy lime-green and very glossy. These will go golden yellow in autumn and then do what they must: drop. Cercis blooms pop out directly from the bare twigs and branches in early spring: a bit disconcerting when first encountered but it gives a ravishing effect, like the whole tree is oozing flowers. Pink so pink it’s almost magenta and each bloom delicate and pea-like which bees find heavenly. For pure oddness and beauty these are hard to beat and would make a spectacular specimen tree for any space. Their smallishness even suits them for pots. Their tendency is towards tidy, but should pruning be necessary, do it after flowering.