How to Grow and Care for Flowering Almond

Flowering Almond Care

Flowering almond is fairly tolerant of urban conditions, as well as moderately drought-tolerant once it is well established. Here are the main care requirements for flowering almond:

• Choose a sunny spot, ideally receiving at least six hours of sunlight, though flowering almond can handle slightly less light.
• Prepare well-draining soil that maintains a bit of moisture.
• Water regularly, especially during the growing seasons, but don’t let flowering almond sit in wet soil for long.
• Fertilize each year in spring.

Light

Flowering almond does best in full sun to partial shade. Try to give it at least five hours of sun each day. In colder regions, it will appreciate even more sun.

Soil

Flowering almond is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, from sandy to clay, but excessively wet soil can be damaging. It does best in soil with average fertility and a fairly neutral pH level between 6.5 to 7.5, though it will tolerate soils that are slightly more acidic or alkaline.

Water

Water regularly to keep the soil moist but not wet, especially during the summer. Cover the soil with 2 inches of shredded mulch for extra protection.

Temperature and Humidity

Flowering almond grows well in a variety of climates in USDA zones 4 to 8. It requires only a short season of cool weather to prompt flowering in the spring. Dwarf flowering almonds are fairly tolerant of urban air conditions.

Fertilizer

Fertilize this shrub with a layer compost spread over the root zone in spring. Otherwise, it does not need additional feeding if the soil is healthy. If you’re looking to promote extra root strength, you can use a phosphorus fertilizer.

Types of Flowering Almond

The most common cultivar of this tree is ‘Rosea Plena’, also sold as ‘Sinensis,’ with light pink flowers. Other cultivars that offer slight variations in flower color and structure include:

• P. glandulosa ‘Alba Plena’ is identical to ‘Rosea Plena’ but with white double flowers.
• P. glandulosa ‘Alba’ has white flowers with a simple single-petal structure.
• P. glandulosa ‘Lawrence’ has single-petal pinkish-white flowers.

Pruning

The most critical aspect of plant care for flowering almond is pruning. Flowering almond is a thin-stemmed plant that can sprawl and grow messy if left alone for too long. The best time to prune is just after blooming is over in spring. This can be done even before the branches have leafed out. This shrub flowers in spring on old wood created during the previous growing season, so pruning it too late removes the growth that makes next season’s flowers possible.

Proper pruning has several elements:

• Remove suckers that sprout up around the base of the plant—unless you wish for the shrub to spread and naturalize.
• Remove any dead or diseased stems down to ground-level
• Remove a few of the thickest, oldest stems down to ground level to stimulate new growth and more profuse flowering.
• Shorten any scraggly, sprawling stems to keep the shrub tidy and control its height.

You will not hurt this shrub by giving it significant pruning—it’s better to prune too much than too little. If the shrub becomes too overgrown or sparse, it responds well to a vigorous rejuvenation pruning that cuts the entire shrub back to just above ground level. It may take a year or two, but the plant will eventually return to a healthy state.

Propagating Flowering Almond

Flowering almond shrubs are species plants rather than grafted plants, so they reproduce reliably from new softwood cuttings in spring or early summer, or from semi-hardwood cuttings from July to August. Here’s how to do it:

1. Clip a 6- to 12-inch segment of branch tip, using sharp pruners. Trim off the lower leaves, but leave at least two pairs of leaves at the top of the cutting.
2. Scrap off about 1 inch of bark from all around the bottom of the cutting, using a sharp knife or the blade of a sharp pruner.
3. Dip the bare end of the cutting in rooting hormone, then plant it in a pot filled with moistened potting mix.
4. Place the planted cutting in a loosely secured plastic bag, then place it in a location with bright indirect light. Periodically check the potting mix and remoisten when necessary.
5. In about six to eight weeks the cutting should develop roots (tug on the cutting; if you feel resistance, it means roots have formed).
6. Once the cutting has rooted, move it outdoors and continue growing it for at least a full year in the pot. For winter months, move the potted sapling into a sheltered location (such as a cold frame) until spring.
7. Plant the shrub in the landscape when it begins to develop new growth the following spring.

Potting and Repotting

Because flowering almond has a limited period of visual appeal, it is not often grown in containers on decks and patios. However, it is easy enough to do so, and it is sometimes the best strategy in landscapes where the garden soil is wet and poorly draining. By planting the shrub in a large pot or raised bed filled with a good porous potting mix, you can ensure soil conditions that are favorable to the plant.

Use a large ceramic or clay pot (at least 20 gallons) with a drainage hole. Some growers blend in some sand with a commercial potting mix to improve drainage.

Container culture is most common in milder climates, where a potted shrub can ornament a large patio or deck. In regions with very cold winters, potted almond shrubs should be moved to a sheltered location for the winter.

When a potted dwarf flowering almond fills its container and begins poking roots through the drainage hole, remove it, trim back the root mass by about one-third, then repot in the same container with additional fresh potting mix.

Overwintering

Within its hardiness range, flowering almond generally survives winter unharmed, but be sure to prepare it by watering well in the fall. Do not prune in winter, as this removes the growth that fuels spring flowering.

Common Plant Diseases

Flowering almond is prone to an unfortunately large number of plant diseases, including leaf spot, powdery mildew, root rot, and honey fungus.

Verticillium wilt is a serious, usually deadly fungal enemy of this shrub. The disease causes leaves to curl up and branches to systematically die back, one by one. Verticillium is a root disease that causes the plant’s root system to constrict so that water can not move up the stems. Affected stems should be pruned away, but once the shrub is infected, it is often doomed to eventual removal. This fungal disease is more likely to occur in soil that does not drain well.

You can help prevent fungus disease and pests by raking up fallen leaves around the shrub, which can harbor fungal spores and insect eggs and larvae.

How to Get Flowering Almond to Bloom

Healthy flowering almond trees should bloom readily, as long as they get enough water and sunlight.

Bloom Months

Flowering almond typically blooms between March and April, with flowers usually appering before the leaves emerge.

What Do Flowering Almond Flowers Look and Smell Like?

Flowering almond produces soft, pink clusters of double flowers. These blooms, though pretty, do not offer any significant fragrance.

How to Encourage More Blooms

Promote healthy blooming by ensuring ample sunlight and watering. Proper pruning in late spring can also contribute to more blooms in the following year.

Caring for Flowering Almond After It Blooms

No specific care is required for flowering almond after it blooms, though you may want to prune it. Otherwise, care for it as you have been.

Deadheading Flowering Almond

Do not prune during bloom; instead, wait until the flowers are fully developed and beginning to fade, then deadhead and prune rigorously before the branches have fully leafed out. Aggressive pruning done at the right time will improve the following season’s flower display.

Common Problems With Dwarf Flowering Almond

Beyond the many diseases that can plague flowering almond, the most common complaint with this shrub is its rather dull and messy appearance once the dramatic early spring flowers have faded. Otherwise, yellowing of the leaves can occur.

Leaves Turning Yellow

Yellowing leaves on this plant usually is a sign of a mineral nutrient deficiency, such as a lack of nitrogen or iron. In this case, you may need to supplement your plant with fertilizer rich in the minerals it’s lacking. Be careful not to create an excessively high pH in your soil when treating the problem.