Prunus cerasifera 'Thundercloud'
- Phonetic Spelling
- PROO-nus ser-ah-SIF-er-a
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The Thundercoud Cherry Plum is a cultivar of Prunus cerasifera. 'Thundercloud' is a small ornamental flowering tree in the rose family, maturing to 25 feet high and wide, and is noted for having one of the darkest purple eaves and twigs of all the flowering plums. Pink blossoms blanket the stems right before the leaves emerge and provide an excellent contrast of pale pink against dark red.
This tree does best in full sun, but will tolerate partial shade. However, purple leaf coloring occurs in full sun. Trees in shade tend to produce green leaves. It requires moist, well-drained, loamy soils, but it tolerates many soil conditions. Plant as a specimen or in groupings as a hedge or screen in a Japanese or cottage garden or at the back of a border.
Prune right after flowering to maintain shape. It can be propagated through chip budding, grafting or softwood cuttings in the early summer. This cultivar is grown primarily as an ornamental tree and not as a fruit-bearing tree. The showy purple foliage is colorful throughout the growing season.
Insects Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
Aphids, caterpillars, and leaf miners are occasional insect pests. Diseases include cankers, and wilts.
- 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
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits attract birds and small mammals.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 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:
- Dense
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Reddish-purple fruits (purple plums to 1” diameter). Fruits are not produced in great quantities.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Masses of fragrant showy pink to white single flowers with 5 petals.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Ruby red, 2 1/2 inch leaves first emerge in the spring turning dark purple as they age.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Irregular
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Small Tree
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- 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
