Prunus cerasifera
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PROO-nus se-ra-SEE-fer-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
The purple leaf plum is a short-lived ornamental tree grown for its attractive purple foliage. It is a shrubby twiggy tree with a rounded crown and spreading branches often vase-shaped with dense foliage. It is adaptable to many soil conditions but needs full sun. Plant as a specimen, in a border or a small group as a screen or hedge. This small flowering tree is a great addition to a Japanese garden or a cottage garden.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: This tree is frequently damaged by deer.
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
-
'Atropurea'
- 'Crimson Pointe'
- 'Newport'
- Thundercloud
Deep reddish-purple leaves, pale pink flowers
'Thundercloud'
Foliage is purple from spring to fall
Red new leaves, purple older leaves, lots of pink flowers - 'Crimson Pointe'
- 'Atropurea', 'Crimson Pointe', 'Newport', Thundercloud, 'Thundercloud'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
-
'Atropurea'
- 'Crimson Pointe'
- 'Newport'
- Thundercloud
Deep reddish-purple leaves, pale pink flowers
'Thundercloud'
Foliage is purple from spring to fall
Red new leaves, purple older leaves, lots of pink flowers - 'Crimson Pointe'
- 'Atropurea', 'Crimson Pointe', 'Newport', Thundercloud, 'Thundercloud'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- cerasifera
- Family:
- Roseaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SE. Europe to Central Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north. Fruits are eaten by songbirds.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
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
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- 1 in. reddish fruit in summer, not an effective fruit for eating or display.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Fragrant single pink or white flowers 1/4"-1" across, appear in mid-spring before leaves emerge.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, 1.5" to 2.5" long and 1"-1.5" wide , ovate to ellipical, serrated margins, rounded base, acute apex. There are glands at the leaf base near the petole. No significant fall color
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Bark Description:
- Red-brown with many horizontal lenticles.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Short-lived
-
-
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
