5 things you probably don’t know about flowering trees

Flowering trees complement any garden and will enrich your senses. Think of the beauty of cherry tree blossom in the spring, or the massed magnificence of apple orchards in full flower and you’ll soon appreciate why these trees are so important. Here are five facts that you may not know about these wonderful plants.

1. Not all flowering cherry trees produce edible fruit

Originally Japanese cherry trees were cultivated for their beautiful spring blossom, rather than the quality of their fruit. Many of these trees produce small cherries that are sour and quite inedible unless you’re a bird or bee. Some are completely sterile and produce no fruit at all. For a wonderful selection of flowering trees, take a look at the variety on offer from Ashridge Trees.

2. Lilac blossom is edible

Not only is the lilac tree famous for its stunning scented blossom, you can also use these flowers as an addition to ice creams and sorbets. You can dry the blossom and reserve it for use throughout the year. The flowers can be added to sugar in the same way that you would add a vanilla pod. Alternatively, you can use the blossom as a basis for jellies and other puddings. Use sparingly, otherwise its perfumed taste can be overpowering.

3. Medlars are best eaten when almost rotten

Introduced to the UK by the Romans, the medlar fruit tree is undergoing something of a renaissance in popularity. These trees are popular in Kensington Gardens, one of London’s Royal Parks and according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) website can be grown in gardens throughout the UK. This tree produces stunning blossom in the early summer and by the October and early November you should expect to see its intriguing fruit. After harvesting, leave the fruit to ‘blet’ – this entails dipping the fruit stalks into a salt solution and then storing for several weeks. The chef Nigel Slater suggests using the harvest for aromatic jellies to accompany cold meat. The best variety for the UK is Mespilus Nottingham.

4. Tulip trees take a while to flower

The beautifully exotic tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) was introduced to the UK from the Orient in the 19^th century. Many admirers of its luscious blossom are often surprised when they plant their tree and that for years afterwards the tree hasn’t blossomed. These trees can take up to 15 years to come into blossom, the treat is well worth the wait, just remember in the mean time you’ll need a company like kings cuts tree services to come and regularly trim your tree to make sure it grows as well as it can Scientists claim that the tulip tree has been around since the Cretaceous era and dinosaurs may well have sheltered under its leaves as the tree can grow to heights of well over 100 feet. It also has sweet scented wood ideal for chests and cupboards where you want to keep clothes moths at bay.

5. Pansies aren’t just for flowerbeds

The Cercis Canadensis, also known as the Forest Pansy Tree, is perfect for anyone who has a small garden and wants blossom in the spring and beautiful foliage throughout the summer. Although the tree grows to a height of 8-12 metres it is slim and according to the RHS website, this tree is hardy and will grow in most gardens.