Albizia julibrissen 'Summer Chocolate' 12Ltr pot

Albizia julibrissin 'Summer Chocolate' — 12Ltr Pot

A truly distinctive silk tree, Albizia julibrissin 'Summer Chocolate' pairs the exotic, ferny foliage the genus is known for with a striking twist — leaves that emerge bronze-purple and deepen into a rich, chocolate-burgundy colour that holds right through the season. Against this dark backdrop, clusters of feathery, pinkish-cream flowerheads with fine silky stamens open through summer, creating a beautiful contrast that's earned this cultivar the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

A large shrub or small tree with a domed, spreading crown at maturity, 'Summer Chocolate' makes a wonderful specimen for a sunny border, large patio pot or Mediterranean-style planting scheme where its unusual colouring can take centre stage.

Grow in full sun, in any well-drained soil — this variety tolerates chalk, loam and sand. It's less hardy than many garden trees (RHS H4), reliably surviving temperatures down to around -5°C, so it's best suited to southern counties, London gardens, or a warm, sheltered spot against a south- or west-facing wall further north; in colder areas it also makes an excellent large container or conservatory plant. Once established it needs only minimal pruning, and growth ripened well over summer will withstand low temperatures better than soft, late growth.

Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch, supplied in a 12-litre pot ready for planting straight into its final position.