Flowering Plum

Flowering Plum 'Elvins' (Prunus 'Elvins') is an Australian raised blossom tree that stays small enough for a suburban front garden, reaching about 4m tall and 3m wide. In late winter the bare branches carry masses of pale pink blossom. It is a non fruiting selection, so nothing drops on the path afterwards, and the roots are non invasive.

Why you'll love it

• Blossom before the leaves. Flowers open on bare wood, so the whole canopy reads as pink rather than pink dotted through green.
• Nothing to clean up. It sets no fruit, which keeps paths, driveways and pool surrounds clear.
• Small tree, real presence. At 4m by 3m it suits a courtyard or a front lawn without shading the house.
• Tough once established. Frost hardy, wind tolerant and drought tolerant, so it copes with a cold Canberra winter and a dry Adelaide summer.

Where it works best

Feature planting. One tree in a lawn marks the seasons clearly: blossom in late winter, green through summer, bare structure in the cold months. Allow 3m of clear space for the canopy.

Small gardens and courtyards. The modest canopy will not take light off a north facing window or swallow a small back yard.

Driveways and avenues. Plant 3m to 4m apart for a repeating line of blossom. That spacing matches the mature width, so each tree keeps its shape.

Growing Flowering Plum 'Elvins' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, in a garden that gets some winter chill. This is a tree for warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, so Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and the tablelands all suit it. In the humid subtropics and tropics it will not get the cold it needs to flower heavily.

Soil. Any reasonably drained garden soil works. Dig compost through the backfill, avoid low spots that stay wet in winter, and mulch 75mm deep clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers, then water only in long dry spells. One application of complete slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough.

Pruning. Prune straight after flowering, because next season's flowers form on this year's wood. Remove crossing branches and lift the lower limbs if you want to walk beneath it.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell it in a 200mm pack of six, a 45L and a 100L. The 200mm plants are young whips and suit an avenue where you can wait three to four years for height. The 45L is the usual choice for a single tree, and the 100L arrives with a real trunk and branch structure. Ordered in the cold months it will arrive leafless, which is normal for a deciduous tree.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full flowering tree range
• Compare small trees for urban gardens
• See other trees with non invasive roots
• When to plant a tree in Australia

Common questions

Does it produce plums?

No. 'Elvins' is grown for blossom only and sets no fruit, so there is nothing to sweep off a path or driveway.

When does it flower?

Late winter into early spring in most southern gardens, on bare wood before the leaves appear. The display runs two to three weeks, shorter in a hot windy spell.

Will it grow in Brisbane or further north?

It belongs in warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean areas. Without winter chill the flowering is thin and unreliable, so northern gardeners are better served by another feature tree.

How close to a path can I plant it?

Closer than most deciduous trees, because the roots are non invasive. Allow about 1.5m from hard surfaces so the trunk has room to thicken.