Cercis chinensis Avondale

• 'Avondale' naturally keeps a tidy, upright shape. Pruning is minimal. If a compact size is preferred, lightly trim after flowering in late spring or early summer. Remove any damaged or crossing branches and maintain the height around 1.5m if desired.

How To Plant:

• Cercis Avondale grows beautifully in a large, sturdy patio pot or in a small garden bed. For containers, choose a pot at least 40cm wide and fill it with a good quality compost. Gently ease the tree from its nursery pot, place it so the top of the rootball sits level with the new soil surface, then fill around the sides, firming lightly. Water thoroughly to settle the compost.
• If planting into the ground, improve the soil with well rotted organic matter and ensure good drainage. Plant at the same depth as it was in its original pot, firm the soil and water well. Mulching around the base helps conserve moisture and reduce weed competition.

Ongoing Care:

• Water regularly during the first growing season while the tree establishes. Patio grown specimens need more attention, especially in warm, dry spells. Once established, watering can be reduced, but container grown plants will still appreciate consistent moisture during spring and summer.
• Feed each spring with a balanced, general purpose fertiliser. Container grown Cercis benefits from a slow release feed at the start of the season, with the option of an occasional liquid feed during summer to support healthy foliage and flowering the following year.
• This variety is fully hardy. Trees planted in the ground require no special protection. Container grown plants benefit from having their pots raised on feet to improve drainage. Avoid waterlogging over winter and allow fallen leaves to be cleared so the crown stays clean.

Please allow us 3-5 working days to dispatch your order. Pre-ordered items will be sent as soon as possible after the date quoted and we'll generally ship your entire order with your pre-ordered items. When your order is dispatched, we'll send you another email with details of how to track it.

Most orders are sent on a fully-tracked courier service with Yodel. To avoid perishable items being stuck at depots and deteriorating, no signature is required, and our courier is asked to leave your order in a safe place on your property.

We'll send a tracking link when we dispatch your order, so you know when its due to arrive. Please note, once delivered we cannot be held responsible for loss or theft from your property. If you have any specific delivery instructions, please let us know - there's an option to enter a short message for the courier at the checkout.

Smaller, lighter, single-item orders may be sent through the post with Royal Mail - in which case no tracking is available.

Our experienced nursery team will always send your plants nursery fresh in the perfect condition to thrive when you plant them, so although most plants are very tough and will not be affected by all but the most extreme frosts or heatwaves, we avoid dispatching the most perishable plants if extreme weather is forecast, or over Bank Holiday weekends.

Please note, we cannot guarantee delivery on a certain day or time. Delivery to outlying postcode areas may take 1-2 days longer, dependent on your location.