Monday, August 9, 2010

Almonds from the Flowering Almond Shrub

From In the Garden
I am always delighted to grow some fruits, nuts, or whatever in my garden, though I don't set out to do so. Case in point, my flowering quince bore fruit last year for me. What a surprise that was! Last year also saw some almonds growing on my flowering almond, aka Prunus glandulosa 'Rosea Plena' and this year has brought a bumper crop of them.

From In the Garden
I don't think these are the kind of almonds humans would want to consume because when I cracked open a very brown almond the inside seed was a bit dried up. It may be that I did not pick it at the right time but that is fine because it is not my intent to eat these nuts. I am hoping the birds will enjoy the nuts. In the meantime I really like the ornamental value of these hairy nuts in my small shrub.

From In the Garden

The whole shrub itself is not really much to look at. I have mine growing next to a chain link fence on the north side of my home in the backyard. The border directly behind this fence is part of my Northside Shrub Border. This shrub is surrounded by viburnums and hydrangeas and gets barely any sun. That however has not fazed the shrub. It has steadily grown a bit each of the past six years I've been growing it and has never failed to bloom. Late freezes, droughts, and pests are never a problem for this flowering almond. I've also never fertilized, pruned or watered this shrub. It is a real keeper for me in my garden and the hairy almonds are a bonus....

in the garden....


Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden

24 comments:

  1. If I remember this plant has a nice flower and looks lovely each spring~It seems to have a lot to recommend it~gail

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  2. It is spring when I notice this shrub in bloom. Never paid much attention to one, but now I'll try to take notice when I see these at our local botanical gardens.

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  3. So do the squirrels leave them alone? I think they have beautiful blossoms.
    Rosey

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  4. This is one of those shrubs on my wish list, the photos of them flowering are beautiful.

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  5. Good morning all!

    Gail, a nice pink bloom indeed. I am liking it!

    Cameron, I'd be interested if more get these. I'm sure they do but have never heard anyone mention it before.

    Rosey, So far I think no squirrels. The birds are busy eating berries but they might get to these at some point.

    Dawn, They are usually really cheap at all the big box stores. Keep an eye out. So glad you all went on a vacation!

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  6. If it's producing fruit, you are obviously treating it well. How fun to find the almonds.

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  7. That is sooooo very neat to have almonds!!!

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  8. Wow that is cool. I wonder which species is the edible sort.Prunus tenella is hardy enough to grow up here. I want one for my garden for its pretty pink spring flowers.

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  9. Morning all. Not so humid today, yippee but will be later today, Blah blah blah.....

    I think it such a bonus to get nuts, berries are anything else that the critters might enjoy. I know the BlueJays like nuts so they may partake in a feast of hairy nuts...

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  10. Tina, it sounds like the 'perfect' plant with no watering or fertilizer. And I like the hairy almonds too. Very different and I tend to like plants that you don't see everyday. Once again I've learned something here.

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  11. Being the weirdo that I sometimes am, I must admit to a hearty chuckle when I read a certain description in your second paragraph.

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  12. Very neat! We have one but not mature enough yet to produce anything.

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  13. GSS, It is a neat little shrub.

    Mom, Very cool indeed!

    Melanie, I have no idea on the edible sort as I've never thought to try them. Too cool there is a hardy one for you.

    Skeeter, Humid and hot here. Urgh. Awful summer this year. Yup, hoping the birds enjoy the nuts.

    Linda, This is a plant Dirr says doesn't belong in gardens but I enjoy it, though some would consider it a trash plant:(

    TC, ;)

    Dave, Give it a few years. This has been here for about 5 years now. It takes time.

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  14. If it attracts winged friends, that I guess that's a BIG yes even if it doesn't look pretty.
    Like the cool hairy look of it. Fruits and nuts are something....!

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  15. Very interesting - I've never heard of that shrub actually bearing fruit! Something about your yard must encourage maternal instincts in your plants ;-)

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  16. Hi Tina.
    Those nuts are really interesting looking. It sounds like a good shrub to me especially if it flowers. I don't have any nut-bearing trees in my yard (well, my oak tree is supposed to produce acorns but I've only ever seen one!)

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  17. I believe my grandmother used to have a flowering almond bush. I remember the pretty flowers but don't remember the seeds. I rarely see them anymore.
    Marnie

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  18. Hmmm, flowering almonds I believe are ven hardy here--now why don't I have one? Oh well, I don't have a quince, either.

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  19. I have a Flowering Almond that I brought back from Puryear, Tn. I've had it for over 10 yrs. & it has never produced any nuts. I really like the little pink flowers that it has in the Spring before the leaves come on. Does yours lose it's leaves in the winter?
    I've thought about getting a Flowering Quince but haven't run across one here. I think they are pretty too.

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  20. Your shrub is nice to look at, and it serves the purpose intended upon it... When we leave it to nature, then it has natural beauty. Well tended and immaculate garden has a different kind of beauty, definitely not natural...
    ~ bangchik

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  21. I'm so glad you featured this, Tina. I've seen this shrub in catalogs and thought it looked so pretty. Does it smell like almonds? I would love to have that fragrance in my garden. "Hairy almonds," though, don't sound too appealing:)

    Happy Birthday, Tina!

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  22. What a cool plant - I'd look into the timing of the nut-picking. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to eat some?

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  23. I keep trying to add more and more plants for the birds too. That is one interesting looking outer shell on the Almond. Happy Birthday Tina!!!! :)

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  24. I dont know about almond trees, we dont have them here. We only know the almonds as we eat them, actually at the moment i have lots still in kernels, as present from my sister abroad. I did not know too it has hairs on the fruit, but i like how it stands. It can be a shrub center piece.

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