What tree am I ?

[Mr Grinch]

Hi,

Im a mature tree, planted in damp clay conditions. I am deciduous. I have red leaves with pretty pink blossom in spring. I have no fruit or berries.
My owner does know what variety i am and to be honest ive forgotten as im the only one around the area !

Can anyone tell me what i am ?

[Susie Snowdrop]

Hiya!

It sounds like the tree I have in my front garden..................now then ......................... ...............it's definately a Prunus................................... ....................Crimson something or something Crimson . Can't remember it's full name! I bought it from work so I'll have a look in the catalogue today

S x

[Mr Grinch]

Im not sure if im that ! I thought Prunus Crimson was a dwarf shrub with fruits. Im 25 foot high and definitely a tee !!

[Susie Snowdrop]

Mine's definately a tree, albeit very small . You didn't say how big you were

I have a Frank Matthews trade book at work..............I'll take a look and see what I can find!

S x

[Susie Snowdrop]

Dear Tree,

Please could you describe to me what your leaves look like

S x

[Mr Grinch]

Dear tree lover,

Not sure really, they are not big leaves, dark red colour (Acer Palmatum red). My leafs are just starting to appear and my buds are also red. My wood twigs are quite dark and get a little green with algae.

Mr G

[andy]

Malus Prattii 'profusion'

[andy]

images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=Malus+%27profusion%27&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2

Mine at work is certainly 40 years old and has never fruited !!!

Any good ?

[Mr Grinch]

Defo not a Malus !!

Mr G

[Spruance]

Prunus cerasifera nigra perhaps?

Like this one (behind GH).....

[andy]

Oh yeah...forgot abou prunus cerasifera (could be P. cerasifera 'pisardii')

Mind you, they hardly ever flower !!!

[Spruance]

andy said:

Oh yeah...forgot abou prunus cerasifera (could be P. cerasifera 'pisardii')

Mind you, they hardly ever flower !!!

Sorry, I meant pisardii

As for flowering, mine is just starting to flower now. I can produce hard evidence tomorrow if necessary. It even had plums on it last year, although they were only fit for the birds (too bitter).

[Mr Grinch]

Looks similar Spruance ! Mine has no fruit and has never produced fruit. Spring blossom is pinky white i colour and appears end of Feb and march. Have you got a close up ??

Mr G

[Mr Grinch]

Looking at some pics on the NET, its not the tree i dont think !!

Mr G

[andy]

Any chance of a photo mr G ?

Pics would be super spruance....i've honestly never seen them flower in 25 years of profesional gardening. Maybe i've had my eyes shut

It's not a copper beech is it Mr G (fagus sylvatica 'purpurea')....maybe just clutching at straws now ?

Ahhhh...but they don't flower in the true sense of the word

[Spruance]

andy said:

Pics would be super spruance....i've honestly never seen them flower in 25 years of profesional gardening. Maybe i've had my eyes shut

I'll make a mental note to get the camera out tomorrow!

[Mr Grinch]

The blosom looks a bit like cherry blossom, just starting to appear now !

Mr G

[Spruance]

My tree always seems to start flowering from the bottom up Mr. G. The first flowers appeared around one week ago. I will take some photos at lunchtime and post them this evening.

[andy]

Could it be a variety of hawthorn ? although still very early for most trees to flower except certain varieties of prunus.

[fozzie]

Excuse me for butting in, also forgive me for being THICK but surely all plants produce seeds, which we would then call fruit or berry. Or did I misunderstand the question. Not unusual at my age!

Foz

[andy]

Only if the flower is pollenated !!!!...and even then, certain conditions such as dry soil, not enough humidity etc etc can cause them to fall off....and you may not notice the fruits are even there.

Not a "thick" question at all....the only stupid question is the one you don't ask !!!

[Mr Grinch]

Please see picture below !
i64.photobucket.com/albums/h167/MrGrinch_photos/2005-6065.jpg
There is no fruit or berries, not that ive noticed anyway ! Its not a hawthorn, defo a tree !

Mr G

[andy]

Could be a hawthorn tree !!!!

I'd say it was a prunus cerasifera 'pisardii' as mentioned by spruance earlier looking at the shape of it.

[Dutchy]

Could it be Viburnum Plicatum one of the sterile forms?
They grow tree size after a while and you can get them with dark leaves or was that another Viburnum.
hm I'll look again.

p.s. you are not an ornamental cherry are you?

[Spruance]

OK, as promised I have posted three photos of the early blossom on my Prunus cerasifera pissardii on my Spruance's Garden thread to save cluttering this one.

Unfortunately it was raining at the time, and the resultant flash has produced a slightly washed out effect on the flowers.

I will endeavour to take some better ones at the weekend.

[Mr Grinch]

Next door did mention that i could be an ornamental cherry ! What do you think ??

Mr G

[Mr Grinch]

Andy,

I thought Hawthorns had barbs and prickles ??

Mr G

[andy]

Not all hawthorns Mr G. There are thornless varieties. Just clutching at straws really.

Spruance....i've honestly never seen them flower....just shows i'm still learnong too. I've probably never noticed them in flower before because when i was a trainee on out tree and shrub section, i was always told they were weeds and i've therefore always associated them with being virtually seedlings that just "pop up" where there not wanted.

Sometimes, you don't realise beauty until it hits you in the face.

[Spruance]

I must say Andy that it has only started flowering in the last 3 years or so. It is effectively the oldest plant that I have introduced to the garden, having been planted as a 9 ft sapling in June 1994. I don't know how old it was when it was planted, but this is it's thirteenth year in the garden. I presume it likes its location.

[Mr Grinch]

Could it me an Ornamental Cherry 'Prunus Pandora' ??

Sounds right apart from the leaves going orange in autumn ??

Mr G