Definition

Noun: 1. A woody, ornamental plant (Prunus triloba or related species) native to Asia, cultivated primarily for its showy, profuse pink or white blossoms that appear in early spring, before or with its leaves. It produces small, smooth, red, inedible fruit. The plant is often grown as a large shrub or small tree.

Usage

• The flowering almond is a popular choice for early spring color in temperate gardens.
• We planted a flowering almond by the entrance; its pink blossoms are spectacular in March.
• Unlike the almond tree grown for nuts, the flowering almond is valued solely for its ornamental beauty.

Advanced Usage

• In botanical classification: The term "flowering almond" is a common name that can refer to several species, most notably (often called the "double-flowering almond" for its full, rose-like blooms) and .
• In horticulture: It is described as a "deciduous" shrub, meaning it loses its leaves annually. Its "often trilobed leaves" (leaves with three lobes) are a distinctive feature of .

Variants and Related Words

• Double-flowering almond: A specific cultivar or form, often 'Multiplex', known for its dense, double-petaled flowers.
• Dwarf flowering almond: Typically refers to , a smaller shrub species.
• Ornamental almond: A broader term that may include the flowering almond and other non-fruiting, decorative species.

Synonyms

• Ornamental plum (in a broad sense, as it belongs to the same genus)
• Flowering plum (a closely related ornamental plant)

Notes on Meaning

• Primary Meaning: The term almost exclusively refers to the ornamental plant grown for its flowers. Its fruit is not cultivated for consumption.
• Distinction from "Almond": It is critical to distinguish the flowering almond from the commercially grown almond tree (). The latter is cultivated for its edible nuts, while the former is grown for decorative purposes. The fruit of the flowering almond is generally considered inedible.

Noun

1. woody oriental plant with smooth unfurrowed red fruit grown especially for its white or pale pink blossoms
2. deciduous Chinese shrub or small tree with often trilobed leaves grown for its pink-white flowers