Image by Bienenwabe

If you’re suffering from flowering-cherry-blindness, and want something which holds its own throughout the seasons, the June Berry is pretty hard to beat.

In April, it sends out drifts of white starry flowers set within bronze foliage. As the blossom drops, the leaves unfold gently into warm green oblongs which catch fire later in the autumn. Set against the smooth bark which turns black in wet weather, these red and orange flames look stunning. There are also edible berries, ripening from red to black. And even in winter when the boughs are bare, this small tree seems to retain its grace. Or perhaps we’re just too besotted with this shrub to really care.

Vital stats:
Location:
Neutral to acid soil with plenty of compost dug in
Light:
Prefers an open sunny spot. Can be grown as a hedging plant or specimen tree
When to plant:
Autumn
What can I expect from this plant?
Height: 20ft when unpruned
Spread: 12ft
Flowers: April

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