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Purple Leaf Sand Cherry Prunus x cistena

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
PROO-nus x sis-tay-na
Description

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:
  • 'Big Cis'
    Taller, larger leaves
  • 'Minnesota Red'
    Deeper purple leaves, cold climates
'Big Cis', 'Minnesota Red'
Tags:
#deciduous#full sun tolerant#specimen#white flowers#red leaves#showy leaves#spring flowers#foundation planting#bird friendly#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#frequent insect problems#frequent disease problems
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Big Cis'
    Taller, larger leaves
  • 'Minnesota Red'
    Deeper purple leaves, cold climates
'Big Cis', 'Minnesota Red'
Tags:
#deciduous#full sun tolerant#specimen#white flowers#red leaves#showy leaves#spring flowers#foundation planting#bird friendly#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#frequent insect problems#frequent disease problems
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Fissured
    Bark Description:
    Gray to gray-brown fissuring trunk
  • 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.
  • 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