Professor Christiane Thomas received the tree from her colleagues as a gift and as a thanks for her commitment and work at the Schaufler Chair of Refrigeration, Cryogenics and Compressor Technology.

The winter-flowering cherry is a tree that grows to a height of around 5 m and has an umbrella-shaped crown. The semi-double flowers, up to 4 cm in size, are particularly striking, bathing the tree in a sea of pink blossoms in early spring. As they bloom before the leaves emerge, the flowers are particularly eye-catching. The intense coloration of the foliage also sets bright accents in autumn.

The winter-flowering cherry is a wild form that is not native to Europe. Nevertheless, its flowers are an important source of food for native insects (bees, bumblebees, hover flies). The fruits are also a food source for birds.