Flowering Almond 'Triloba'

Where to Plant
Choose a position in full sun or partial shade with moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil. A sunny position will encourage the best flowering display. 'Triloba' will grow in chalk, clay, loam or sandy soils provided excess water can drain freely.

Planting Your Tree
Water the plant thoroughly before planting. Dig a hole around twice the width of the rootball but no deeper than the rootball itself. Remove the pot and position the tree so the top of the rootball sits level with the surrounding soil. Backfill with the excavated soil, gently firm and water thoroughly.

Looking After the Graft
'Triloba' is grafted onto a short 60cm stem. You may notice a slightly raised area where the flowering growth has been joined to the rootstock – this is completely normal. Remove any shoots that appear from the stem below the graft, as these are growing from the rootstock rather than the flowering variety.

Staking
Stake the tree if needed while it establishes, particularly in an exposed position. Secure it with a suitable tree tie and check regularly to make sure the tie isn't becoming tight around the stem.

Watering
Water regularly during the first growing season, particularly during warm or dry weather. Once established, water during prolonged dry spells. Trees grown in containers will need more frequent watering, as compost dries out much faster than garden soil.

Feeding & Mulching
Apply a layer of well-rotted garden compost or organic mulch around the base in spring, keeping it clear of the stem. If required, apply a balanced tree and shrub fertiliser in spring according to the manufacturer's instructions. Container-grown plants will benefit from regular feeding during the growing season.

Pruning
Prune after flowering if needed to keep the plant compact and encourage fresh flowering growth. Remove dead, damaged or badly positioned branches and any shoots appearing below the graft. Avoid routine winter pruning, as Prunus can be susceptible to silver leaf disease.

Pests & Problems
Flowering almonds can occasionally be affected by aphids, caterpillars, bacterial canker, blossom wilt, peach leaf curl and silver leaf. Good growing conditions, free-draining soil and appropriate pruning will help keep the plant healthy.

Small Gardens
The short stem and compact branching make 'Triloba' a great way to bring the impact of a flowering tree into a smaller garden. Plant it somewhere the spring blossom can be enjoyed at close range.

Patios & Large Pots
Grafted forms of Flowering Almond work particularly well in large containers. Choose a substantial pot with good drainage and position it on a sunny patio, where the pink spring flowers can become a real feature. Keep a closer eye on watering and feeding than you would with a tree planted in the ground.

Borders
The short stem lifts the flowering branches above lower-growing plants, making 'Triloba' useful as a focal point within a mixed border. Spring bulbs planted underneath can extend the seasonal display.

Cottage-Garden Planting
Pair the pink blossom with tulips, daffodils, muscari or hellebores for plenty of spring colour around the base. Later-flowering perennials can take over as the almond settles into its green summer foliage.

City & Courtyard Gardens
Its manageable proportions also make 'Triloba' well suited to courtyards and smaller urban gardens where there isn't room for a large ornamental tree.

Spring Blossom
Masses of double, rosette-like pink flowers appear along the bare branches in spring, before the foliage has fully emerged.

After Flowering
Fresh green leaves take over once the blossom fades. If the plant needs shaping, prune after flowering and remove any shoots growing from below the graft.

Summer
Green foliage keeps the plant looking fresh through summer. Water during prolonged dry weather, paying particular attention to plants growing in containers.

Autumn
As the season changes, the foliage can develop yellow to bronze tones before falling.

Winter
'Triloba' is deciduous and will naturally lose its leaves during winter. The bare framework remains dormant until growth begins again in spring.

Potted Trees
Potted trees arrive growing in a container and can generally be planted throughout the year, provided the ground isn't frozen, waterlogged or exceptionally dry. If you can't plant immediately, keep the tree outdoors in a sheltered position and water the compost as needed.

Bare-Root Trees
Your bare-root tree will arrive dormant, without a pot or compost around its roots, ready for planting. It will have no leaves at this stage, which is completely normal – once temperatures rise in spring, it will naturally come back into active growth. Unpack your tree promptly, keep the roots moist and plant as soon as possible.

What Does Grafted Mean?
Many ornamental trees are grafted, which means the chosen variety is joined to a compatible rootstock so the two grow together as one tree. The rootstock helps influence characteristics such as vigour and eventual size. You may notice a slightly raised area where the two have been joined – this is the graft union and is completely normal.

If You Can't Plant Straight Away
If planting is delayed, keep bare roots cool, moist and protected. For more than a short delay, temporarily heel the roots into moist soil in a sheltered position until conditions are suitable for planting.

After Planting
Newly planted trees need regular watering while they establish, particularly during dry weather in their first growing season. A spring mulch can help conserve moisture and suppress weeds, but always leave a clear gap around the trunk or stems.