A cherry tree that makes you look forward to spring ánd autumn? Prunus ROYAL FLAME ('Mieke'PBR) will check those boxes and more. A continuous series of events and insights ultimately led to the discovery of this much-loved Prunus. But it all started when Jan van den Brandhof unearthed his love for plants: “I always had a love for plants and walked the school gardens day in and out to get to know all the trees and perennials and their scientific names. At the time of my military service in Nunspeet, I followed a course in gardening techniques and designs.”

His continued passion and dedication to the industry throughout his life eventually led to the discovery of Prunus ROYAL FLAME. “Prunus, with its rich bloom and strong characteristics, has always been one of my favourites. I had planted Prunus Pandora seedlings all around my home, and discovered a distinct seedling in 2008. The flowers were of the purest white, the autumn colours were more intense than I had ever seen, and all of that came combined with a beautiful, upright habit. A combination of characteristics that wasn’t too common within the Prunus assortment.”

Though this Prunus does its official name ROYAL FLAME much credit, the cultivar was named ‘Mieke’, after Jan’s wife. “She’s just as charmed with ROYAL FLAME as I am,” Jan admits. Plantipp applied for EU Plant Breeder’s Rights in 2015, and after years of patience, PBR was granted in 2018. Kwekerij Batouwe was the very first grower in the Netherlands that received ROYAL FLAME material to start propagation. No less than a few months later, ROYAL FLAME was awarded a bronze award by the KVBC.

In early spring, ROYAL FLAME is fully covered with pure white, fragrant flowers. This impressive Prunus develops bronze-coloured young foliage, which changes to gorgeous bright green in summer. But it’s in the autumn that ROYAL FLAME truly lives up to its name, and its warm red-orange foliage creates a fiery spectacle in the landscape. The colours are even more intense than Prunus ‘Pandora’!

ROYAL FLAME has an upright habit and reaches a max of 9 m high and 5.5 m wide. This modest height makes it ideal for smaller lanes, streets, parks or smaller (and large!) gardens.