Prunus x eminens Umbraculifera

Prunus (x) eminens Umbraculifera, also known as Prunus fruticosa Globosa, is a small and refined ornamental tree that proudly displays a dense and globular crown planted on a straight trunk. This ornamental cherry tree has delicate white flowers in early spring and beautiful autumn colours. Compact and stylish, it is well suited for small gardens and creates a sensation with its a structured appearance. Moreover, it is one of the few 'ball' trees that offer a lovely flowering.

Prunus x eminens Umbraculifera is a hybrid horticultural creation, originating from the cross-breeding of Prunus cerasus, the sour cherry tree, with Prunus fruticosa, also known as dwarf plum. This hybrid, with a particularly dense and compact habit, is grafted onto a trunk most commonly from the wild cherry tree. The height of the graft point will determine the total height of the plant, as well as its cultivation requirements. All these Prunus belong to the Rosaceae family.

The growth of this small tree is rather slow, reaching an average height of 4.50m (15ft) with a 3.50m (11ft) spread for the crown. Its branches are thin and reddish-brown. The trunk bark, on the other hand, is coloured from red to reddish-brown and peels off in strips, as is the case with the wild cherry rootstock. The deciduous foliage appears after flowering and falls in autumn. It consists of small, single, finely dentate leaves measuring 3 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) in length. They are dark green, lighter underneath, and turn yellow, orange, and red in autumn. The flowering occurs in March-April on bare branches, taking the form of numerous small white flowers, grouped in small clusters measuring 1.5 cm (1in) in diameter. This nectar-rich flowering is highly visited by bees. It gives way in summer to a few rare small black cherries, approximately 1cm (1in) in diameter, with an acidic taste, sought after by birds.

This Globosa cherry tree can be used along a large avenue or as a specimen tree in a small garden. Resistant to cold, it prefers deep and moist soils, as well as gently sunny positions. It is ideally planted as a specimen tree in a city garden, at the centre of a carefully composed planting bed, for example with groundcover roses, boxwood, creeping Japanese spindle trees, or Lonicera nitida. Plant enthusiasts can also plant Robinia pseudoacacia 'Umbraculifera', as an alternative, which is better suited for dry soils.