Thundercloud Cherry Plum Prunus cerasifera 'Thundercloud'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PROO-nus ser-ah-SIF-er-a
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Thundercoud Cherry Plum is a small ornamental flowering tree in the rose family. It has one of the darkest purple eaves and twigs of all the flowering plums. Flowers appear right before leaves and provide an excellent contrast of pale pink against dark red 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.
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.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Maintenance:
- 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
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- 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:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Ruby red when they first emerge in the spring turning dark purple as they age.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian 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
