Prunus mume 'Beni-chidori' Tree

Prunus mume 'Beni-chidori' is a fantastic choice for an early flowering small tree. The deep pink single flowers lean towards a red shade and open on bare branches in late February – March, earlier than most Japanese flowering cherry trees. The flowers are almond scented and popular with a variety of wildlife. Mid-green, glossy foliage boasts apricot-orange tints in autumn.

This Japanese Apricot tree had a somewhat rounded head, making it slightly lollypop shaped. Expect a height and spread of 2.5 x 2.5 metres in 20 years. Tolerant of all but very damp or chalky soils, 'Beni-chidori is a fabulous choice for putting in a pot to add colour to a patio in the early grey of a new year.

Prunus mume 'Beni-chidori' is one of our most popular varieties of winter - early spring flowering tree. We also have a white flowering Japanese Apricot, Prunus mume 'Omoi-no-mama'.

AKA Japanese Apricot Beni-chidori, Prunus mume 'Beni Chidori'

• Common name: Flowering Japanese Apricot Beni-chidori
• Latin name: Prunus mume 'Beni-chidori'
• Awards: RHS Award of Garden Merit
• Height and spread in 20 years: 2.5 x 2.5 metres
• Flowers: Early flowering (late winter / early spring) deep pink blossom
• Foliage: Glossy green deciduous foliage turns apricot-orange in autumn
• Soil: Suits loam, sand and clay types with good drainage

Planting Advice For Prunus mume 'Beni-chidori'

Our pot grown Beni-chidori Apricot trees can be planted at any time of the year. Choose a location away from strong winds to protect the blossom. When planting in the ground, remove surrounding weeds and grass then dig a square hole as deep as the root mass and twice as wide. Sprinkle root grow in the hole.

Remove the pot, gently loosen the roots and place into the planting hole. Mix 50% of the original soil with 50% compost, fill in the hole and firm around gently. Avoid banking the soil up around the collar of the tree.

We recommend planting Japanese Apricot trees (except multi-stem forms) with a stake and tie kit to ensure the roots are well anchored - instructions are in the planting guide. Finish by watering generously around the base.

After Care Advice For Prunus 'Beni-chidori'

Water Flowering Apricot trees well and regularly through the first spring and summer, increasing in periods of hot or dry weather. In autumn, you may only need to water a little. Our irrigation kits aid establishment.

Once planted, keep the area free of competing weeds and grass for the first couple of growing seasons. If your area is prone to rabbits, use a rabbit guard.

Pruning Prunus mume 'Beni-chidori' Trees

Although it is possible to leave your Beni-chidori Apricot tree to its own devices, if you prune it for the first few years it will create a more balanced branch framework. Prune after flowering i.e. after the petals have dropped but before the new shoot growth appears.

After two to three years, you will only need to remove any damaged or unwanted branches. The formative pruning previously carried out will have led to a healthier tree less likely to need this though. On top grafted forms, very occasionally the grafted stem may produce shoots and these should be pruned back.

Delivery Costs

Delivery Times

Next Day Despatch
We will always try to get your plants to you as quickly as possible.  For many of our trees and plants, if you order today we will despatch your order within 24 hours.  We are constantly adding to our range of next day plants, and we do not add a surcharge for this service. Click here to see our next day delivery plants.

Standard Delivery
We have one of the widest range of trees in the UK, and for those plants which we cannot despatch next day we will normally despatch within 4 weeks. The despatch time for different products will be confirmed when products are added to your shopping basket

Pre-orders
We will only want to deliver your orders when they are perfect for planting! Depending on the season and how well the plants are growing, we will give our best estimates of the despatch dates for pre-orders.  These dates may vary and by species and while we will always try to deliver within these timeframes if the expected despatch does change then we will notify you by email.

Special Orders
Orders containing pleached or mature trees (trees over 2.5m in height) are delivered within 3 weeks. They require specialist delivery and are grouped geographically. Any customers ordering pleached or mature trees will be contacted and notified of their delivery date.

If your trees are required by a specific date, please let us know as soon as possible; while we can’t offer any guarantees we will always do our best to accommodate you. You can leave instructions in the notes field on the Delivery Page of the Checkout or send us an email at [email protected].

Please note that orders are shipped once all the trees in the order are ready.

Collections
Collections are by appointment only at our West Yorkshire-based nursery. If you would like to place an order for collection, please get in touch before placing your order. You will not be charged a delivery cost for a collection and any delivery cost that has been applied will be refunded.

The product table at the bottom of the page gives the forms and sizes available for this variety. Please note, photos are a guideline as all plants are unique. *Pot sizes may vary. Below are definitions of terms:

Supplied Size: Height measured from the top of the pot.

Single Stem tree: Classic tree with one trunk, pruned for a beautiful, natural shape.

Top grafted tree: A height next to this form refers to the length of clear stem, which will not grow taller. Only the head of branches will develop. Ideal for small spaces.

Feathered tree: Branches from the bottom of the trunk all the way up. These branches can be removed if a clear stem is required.

Multi Stem tree: Two or more stems arising from or near ground level, growing from one root system.

Bush: A plant with many stems low down, rather than one clear stem.

Clump: Several plants in one pot that give the appearance of a bushy multi stem tree.

Climber: Naturally climbing plant. Usually delivered running up a cane, ready to position in the garden.

Standard Tree: A more mature tree with an upright clear stem of approximately 1.8m-2.0m (measured from the soil to the lowest branches of the crown). Standards are available in different forms relating to their girth size (circumference of the stem measured 1m above soil level), not height.