Purple Leaf Sand Cherry Prunus x cistena
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PROO-nus sis-tay-na
- Description
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Purple Leaf Sand Cherry is a deciduous shrub in the rose family that matures at around 8 feet tall and wide. It is a hybrid between an Asian tree (Prunus cerasifera 'Atropurpurea' ) and a native species (Prunus pumila). It has a good purplish leaf color throughout summer. The spring flowers give way to purplish drupes that attract birds. It is short-live to about 10 years due to insects and diseases.
This shrub needs well-drained soil and prefers moist rich loams in full sun. It will tolerate some shade but the best flowering and leaf color occur in full sun. It is tolerant of urban conditions, cold winters and hot humid summers.
Plant in the shrub in the border, as a specimen, near an entryway or as a foundation plant.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Trunk cankers and borers can be particularly harmful. Japanese beetles can do significant damage to foliage. Potential additional insects include aphids, scale, leafhoppers, caterpillars and tent caterpillars. Potential diseases include leaf spot, dieback, leaf curl, powdery mildew, root rot, honey fungus and fireblight. Spider mites may also be troublesome.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Big Cis'
Taller, larger leaves - 'Minnesota Red'
Deeper purple leaves, cold climates
- 'Big Cis'
- 'Big Cis', 'Minnesota Red'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Big Cis'
Taller, larger leaves - 'Minnesota Red'
Deeper purple leaves, cold climates
- 'Big Cis'
- 'Big Cis', 'Minnesota Red'
- Tags:
-
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Family:
- Roseaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds eat the fruits
- Dimensions:
- Height: 7 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Multi-trunked
- Oval
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- 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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Often sparse production of 3/4 inch purplish-black fruits in summer
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1/2 inch single, pinkish-white fragrant flowers with red calyxes after leaves have emerged in mid-spring.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The reddish-purple leaves hold their color during the growing season. They are ovate to oval with serrated margins and 1-2 inches long.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Bark Description:
- Gray to gray-brown fissuring trunk
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Description:
- The red-brown stems become dark gray with age with prominent lenticels.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Urban Conditions
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Short-lived
