Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis' bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Autumn Cherry, Winter Cherry (Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis').

More about prunus subhirtella 'autumnalis'

About Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis'

Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis' · also called Autumn Cherry, Winter Cherry · flowering

Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis' is the winter-flowering cherry, valued for semi-double white blooms that open in flushes from late autumn through mild spells into early spring. A graceful, spreading small tree, it brings flower to the dormant season, follows with bronze new leaves and good autumn tints, and suits lawns and mixed borders.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Frosted flowers: Winter blooms are damaged by hard frosts, but the staggered flushing means fresh flowers reopen during the next mild spell.

The reasons prunus subhirtella 'autumnalis' isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming prunus subhirtella 'autumnalis' traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding prunus subhirtella 'autumnalis' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get prunus subhirtella 'autumnalis' to flower

Maximise sun. Give prunus subhirtella 'autumnalis' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for prunus subhirtella 'autumnalis' and get the feeding right with the prunus subhirtella 'autumnalis' fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis' flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full prunus subhirtella 'autumnalis' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis' blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my prunus subhirtella 'autumnalis' flower?

Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis' blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make prunus subhirtella 'autumnalis' bloom?

Give prunus subhirtella 'autumnalis' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does prunus subhirtella 'autumnalis' normally bloom?