Purple-leaf Cherry Plum Prunus cerasifera 'Atropurpurea'
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Prunus cerasifera 'Pisardii'
- Phonetic Spelling
- PROO-nus ser-as-IF-er-a
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Purpleleaf Plum is a shrub to a small tree in the rose family that grows 15-25 feet tall and wide with a vase to a rounded shape. The reddish-purple leaves are the attraction to this plant along with the showy white spring flowers. The leaves maintain their color most of the year. They are fairly short-lived and susceptible to insects and diseases. Twigs and fruit drop can be messy.
Purpleleaf plum isn't picky about soil type or pH and is moderately drought tolerant once established. Leaf color is best when grown in full sun.
Problems: Susceptible to Aphids, Beetle Borers, Caterpillars, Scales and Spider Mites, Armillaria, Root Rot, Rust, Sooty Mold and Verticillium
Quick ID Hints:
- Deciduous tree with reddish-purple foliage all season
- Leaves with minute glands at the petiole, or may lack these altogether
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- cerasifera
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Parent plant is from Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds and small mammals are attracted to the fruit.
- Edibility:
- The fruit is sweet but rather tasteless
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- .5 to 1.5-inch fleshy fruits are reddish-purple drupes are produced prolifically and are edible by wildlife and humans.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are solitary, 1-inch wide, 5-petaled, white, fragrant, and bloom just before leaves are borne in the spring.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are 2-4 inches long and 1-2 inches wide with alternate leaf arrangement, ovate to oval to obovate, acute, rotund to broadly cuneate, dentately-crenate, glabrate, and is typically reddish-purple all season. Petioles have minute, pimple-like glands at the blade base, or lack them altogether.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Bark Description:
- Bark dark brown and fissured.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Reddish-brown stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Design Feature:
- Foundation Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Salt
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Messy
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting: brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Cyanogenic glycosides
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Seeds
- Stems
