Botanical Name: Prunus cerasifera v. 'Atropurpurea'
Common Name: Purple leaf plum
Type of Plant: dicot: tree
Character deciduous
 
Habit of Growth:
Overall Shape a rather small tree, mostly single-trunked, with slender ascending and spreading branches forming a rounded canopy; the new branches are maroon-brown, turning gray-brown with age
Height 15-20'(30')
Spread equal
Growth Rate moderate
 
Environment:
Exposure tolerates both full or partial sun (poor flower production in shade)
Soil prefers a rich loam - tolerates most except soils with high pH
Hardiness hardy (all zones); thrives in areas having definite season changes
 
Morphology:
Leaves pinnate, alternate, ovate-obovate; 1-1/2-2" long with finely serrate margins; purplish-green or purplish bronze (new leaves are copper red)
Flowers pinkish-white, showy, solitary or in small clusters; on second-year or older wood; mostly 5-petaled, 1/2"-1" diameter; Feb.-March
Fruit an edible fleshy drupe: 1/2-1" long, oval, deep red or maroon
 
Propagation:
by seed; seedlings are later grafted
 
Usage:
a dramatic small accent tree, valued for its attractive overall form, its form, dark foliage, and early spring bloom; used as a patio, street or lawn tree; best for temperate-climate theme gardens - good with conifers
 
Landscape Care:
Watering regular preferred: lawn watering is tolerated if drainage is good
Fertilizing balanced (in spring) afterblooming is finished
Pruning thin out the whippy cane-like branches in center to develop framework
Pests/Diseases aphids, scale, peach tree borers, spider mite, oak root fungus
Special Conditions/Other somewhat short-lived where oak root fungus is present
 
Origin: temperate forests of Japan
Family: Rosaceae

Notes:
 
PDF
Your pictures go here