Plant a Shrub Border
Count on easy-care flowering almond when planting a shrub border or wildlife planting. It mixes well with other blooming shrubs such as hydrangea, beautyberry, viburnum, weigela, ninebark, and bluebeard to create a colorful perimeter planting with something flowering from spring through late summer. Flowering almond’s dense, thicket-like growing habit makes it an excellent habitat plant for wildlife. Place it alongside plants that produce berries that are popular with birds in your region, and you’re well on your way to creating a backyard oasis for winged visitors. Add a water source, such as a simple birdbath or fountain, and enjoy the songbird parade.
Flowering Almond Care Must-Knows
Flowering almond grows best in full sun (essential for most flowers) and moist, well-drained loam. It tolerates various soil conditions, although its flowering may be compromised in excessively dry or wet soil. Plant flowering almond in spring and water regularly during the first growing season. Cover the soil around the plant with a 2-inch-thick layer of shredded mulch to prevent soil-moisture loss. Prune this shrub in late spring, right after it finishes flowering, to keep it looking well maintained. Cut dead twigs off at the base of the plant and shear back live twigs to create the desired plant size and shape. A light pruning often helps promote better flowering the following year. This shrub is unfortunately susceptible to numerous problems. Watch for potential diseases like black knot, cankers, die back, leaf spot, powdery mildew, and verticillium wilt, as well as troubling insects like aphids, borers, caterpillars, Japanese beetles, scale, and spider mites.
More Varieties of Flowering Almond
‘Flowering-Almond’ Flowering almond
Prunus triloba var. multiplex ‘Flowering-Almond’ bears double pink flowers in mid-spring. It does not produce fruit. This variety reaches 12 feet high and wide.
