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Prunus ‘Crystal Falls’® wins Best Tree at HTA New Plant Awards

The first weeping winter cherry, promising the same captivating star-shaped flowers as its Plant of the Year cousin, is awarded Best Tree at the 2024 National Plant Show

Just weeks after Prunus ‘Starlight’® was crowned Plant of the Year at RHS Chelsea, its cousin Prunus ‘Crystal Falls’® has received the prestigious accolade of Best Tree in the 2024 HTA New Plant Awards.

The winter-flowering cherry ‘Crystal Falls’® builds on the unusual star-shaped, double white flowers of ‘Starlight’® to add a graceful weeping habit, making it the perfect specimen tree for containers and small gardens.


What’s the story behind Prunus ‘Crystal Falls’®?

Prunus ‘Crystal Falls’® was developed in the UK by well-known tree and shrub breeder Kenneth Tobutt, who worked in collaboration with Dr Radovan Boskovic, an expert on the genetics of fruit trees. The same pair produced Prunus ‘Starlight’®, the 2024 RHS Plant of the Year.

Like ‘Starlight’®, ‘Crystal Falls’® includes parentage from the autumn-flowering cherry Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis Rosea’.

‘Crystal Falls’®, which only received its name shortly before the show, was brought to the 2024 HTA National Plant Show by Frank P Matthews, who have been trialling the tree for several years, explains Sales Director Matthew Thomas.

“We work with breeders all over the world. They submit trees to us to trial – we get hundreds per year, from people who have been in the industry a long time, amateur breeders, and professional breeders. We trial each tree and see what we think of it, and when one shows promise, we give it a name and launch it.”

© Frank P Matthews
© Olivia Drake
What’s so special about ‘Crystal Falls’®?

‘Crystal Falls’® certainly does show promise, representing a great innovation in plant breeding as the first weeping, winter-flowering ornamental cherry. The tree is a healthy grower and produces a well-shaped and graceful tree that is unusual both in habit and flowering time.

The cherry is hardy and robust, with glossy foliage and densely double yet dainty pure white flowers that are similar to Magnolia stellata blooms in shape; a new innovation that was seen for the first time on its cousin ‘Starlight’®.

This is a unique and special plant. We’re really excited to see it out in people’s gardens

- Emma Allen, show judge and RHS Head of Horticultural Relations
Flowering can often continue for two months, from mid-December right through until February or even later in cold winters. The flowers are very robust, sustaining very little damage during frost, resulting in a stunning floral display around Christmas and in the depths of winter.

“The weeping habit is very tidy, gentle and even – it’s a very graceful tree. There are one or two other weeping Prunus, but this is a particularly good shape,” says Matthew.

“It’s winter flowering, which is highly unusual – there are only two or three other winter flowering Prunus, and during mild spells in the winter this will come into flower, which is very beautiful. The flower on this one is a double, so that again is quite unusual, and it’s a lovely pure white.

“It’s not a particularly big tree, which makes it ideal for lots of different gardens. The autumn colour is quite nice as well; there are some nice buttery colours on the leaves. It’s an easy one to grow and doesn’t get particularly big.”


© Horticultural Trades Association
What did the judges think?

This year’s judging panel consisted of Emma Allen (RHS Head of Horticultural Relations), Andy Bunker (Alton Garden Centre), Cath Quinney (Bennybeg Plant Centre), Michael Perry (Mr Plant Geek) and Josh Egan-Wyer (Pershore College).

Emma Allen says, “This is a cousin of Prunus ‘Starlight’®, which won the RHS Plant of the Year. It has the same really unique star-shaped flowers, almost reminiscent of Magnolia stellata, but as a weeping form.

“Those flowers, which probably appear in January-February time because it’s got Prunus subhirtella in the breeding, mean this is quite a unique and special plant, so we’re really excited to see this out in people’s gardens.”

If you see it in flower, it really is something else

- Pippa Greenwood, HTA Horticulture Manager and judging coordinator
Andy Bunker adds, “There’s no doubt about it – flowering cherries are one of the biggest categories in ornamentals [in retail]. It’s got a nice habit; the smaller tree fits the bill for smaller gardens.”

HTA Horticulture Manager Pippa Greenwood, who coordinated the judging, says: “It’s lovely to have another plant that’s going to get people to look at their gardens and enjoy them at a time of year when a lot of people forget they have a garden.

“This is something that’s going to bring excitement and wow factor and hopefully encourage people to get out there a bit more out of season.”


© Frank P Matthews
How to grow Prunus ‘Crystal Falls’®

A good garden performer, ‘Crystal Falls’® will grow in all regions of the UK and on all soil types. It will reach a compact height and spread of 2x2m after ten years, making it ideal for small gardens and even container growing.

“‘Crystal Falls’® is very easy to look after once planted,” says Matthew. “If planting in summer, like all trees, you need to make sure you water it well. If you have a big enough pot it can be kept in a container, which is quite nice. You could keep it in a 50-litre pot for a few years – just keep it well watered and fed, particularly in summer.

“Obviously with a weeping habit the key thing is to plant it somewhere where that shape can be appreciated, so if it’s in a border, it needs to have space around it for that habit to develop. It’s a very low-maintenance tree. 

The tree has no known issues with pests, and in particular, observations show no susceptibility to black fly aphid. ‘Crystal Falls’® has resistance to bacterial blossom and foliage infections alongside frost resistance, ensuring a stunning and long-lasting display through winter.
 


Where can I buy Prunus ‘Crystal Falls’®?

Prunus ‘Crystal Falls’® will become available to buy later this year, including from Frank P Matthews. Please check back on this page for further details.
 
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