Strawberries and Cream Tree

The Strawberries and Cream Tree is a graft hybrid cherry tree (of Prunus avium and P. serrulata 'Kanzan') in Backwell, North Somerset, England. Planted on council land in the 1950s, it is noted for producing two distinct colours of blossom: pink blossom on one side of the tree and white on the other, when it blooms every spring. This gave rise to the name 'Strawberries and Cream Tree', which was coined by children of the village.

Strawberries and Cream Tree
The Strawberries and Cream Tree in full bloom in April 2020, showing its distinctive pink and white blossoms.
SpeciesWild cherry (Prunus avium) + Kanzan (P. serrulata 'Kanzan') graft hybrid
LocationRodney Road, Backwell, North Somerset, England
Coordinates51°24′52.3″N 02°44′42.2″W
Date seededc. 1950s
CustodianNorth Somerset Council

It is one of only two reported examples of cherry-Kanzan graft hybrid trees in England; the other being in Portchester, Hampshire.[1]

Botany
A sign adjacent to the tree outlines its botanical information.
See also: Grafting

The Strawberries and Cream Tree is a native wild cherry tree (Prunus avium) grafted with Prunus 'Kanzan', an ornamental cherry variety from Japan. The wild cherry produces the white blossom, while the 'Kanzan' produces the pink blossom.[2][3] The dual blossom gave rise to the name 'Strawberries and Cream Tree', coined by children of the village.[3]

Fruit trees tend to be grafted onto the rootstock of a hardier tree variety, usually to provide them with additional water and nutrients. In the case of the Strawberries and Cream tree, the rootstock grew along with the tree, creating a graft hybrid.[1][4]

History

The Strawberries and Cream Tree was planted on public land which is now owned by North Somerset Council, on Rodney Road in the village of Backwell.[2] It is not known who originally planted and grafted the tree,[1] but it is believed to have been planted in the late 1950s.[2][3][4]

Tree preservation order

Due to its rarity, the Strawberries and Cream Tree was granted a six-month tree preservation order on 14 December 2019. The order prevents the cutting down, lopping or topping of the tree without prior permission from the council.[2][4] The order may be made permanent in the future.[2]

References
  1. Robinson, Sarah (28 May 2018). "One tree, two types of blossom – Backwell's 'rare' hybrid". North Somerset Times. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  2. "Somerset 'strawberries and cream' tree granted temporary protection". BBC News. 14 December 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  3. "Cherry unusual tree blooms pink and white". Metro. 14 April 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  4. Newnham, Gareth (14 December 2019). "Council gives beloved strawberries and cream tree protected status". North Somerset Times. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
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