Oakville Crimson Spire Cherry Plum

Oakville Crimson Spire Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera 'Oakville Crimson Spire') is the answer to a narrow gap that still needs height. It grows to about 6m tall but only 2m wide, holding a tight upright column of deep burgundy foliage, and it does it quickly. Pink blossom covers the bare stems in early spring, and the foliage colours again in autumn before it drops.

Why you'll love it

• Height without width. Six metres tall and two metres across is a rare shape. It screens an upstairs window from a bed barely wider than a wheelie bin.
• Burgundy foliage all season. The colour is in the leaf, not the flower, so it holds deep purple red from spring to leaf drop.
• Spring blossom on bare wood. Soft pink flowers open before the foliage, which is when they show best, and they bring in bees early.
• Fast and hardy. It fills its shape in a few seasons, and it is frost hardy, wind tolerant and drought tolerant once established.

Where it works best

Narrow screening and privacy. Plant 1.5m apart in a single row and the columns close into a continuous burgundy wall. Be clear that this is a summer screen: it is deciduous, so from late autumn to early spring you are looking through bare stems.

Driveways and avenues. Its narrow habit lets it sit close to a driveway edge without constant pruning. Space it 2m to 3m apart for a formal avenue where each trunk is meant to be seen.

Small gardens. A single tree gives a courtyard real vertical structure against a rendered or pale timber wall.

Growing Oakville Crimson Spire in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, because shade dulls the burgundy to a muddy green. This tree belongs in cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, where it gets the winter chill that drives good blossom. It is frost hardy, and it is not a tree for tropical or subtropical gardens.

Soil. Well drained soil of any reasonable type. Raise the planting position on heavy clay, since water sitting through winter is the main cause of failure. Mulch 75mm deep, clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers, then it becomes genuinely drought tolerant. Feed a complete slow release fertiliser in early spring as the buds swell.

Pruning. Very little is required, which is the point of a naturally narrow tree. Prune straight after flowering if it needs tidying, and clear suckers from the base.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is grown in advanced sizes only: 400mm pots and 45L, 100L and 200L containers. There is no tube or small pot option, so the plant that arrives is already a formed tree with a clear trunk and useful height.

Because it is deciduous, stock sent through winter can arrive bare, and this is normal rather than a fault. Expect it to sit quietly through its first season while the roots take hold, then move away in the second. 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. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Evergreen or deciduous: choosing a screening tree
• Compare tall narrow screening plants
• Browse the deciduous tree range
• See other plants with autumn colour

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

One and a half metres apart in a single row. The mature width is about 2m, so at 1.5m centres the crowns overlap slightly and the row closes without the trees starving each other of light.

Will it screen all year?

No. It screens from spring through autumn and stands bare over winter. If you need cover twelve months of the year, choose an evergreen instead.

Is it safe around pets?

Not entirely. The leaves and fruit stones contain cyanogenic compounds and are toxic to dogs, cats and livestock if chewed in quantity. Most dogs ignore it, but it is worth knowing first.