Common Name: Purple Leaf Plum

Scientific Name: Prunus cerasifera

Purple Leaf Plum - Landscape

Size:

• 10' to 12' width X 15' to 25' height

• Single to multi-stemmed
• Pyramidal
• Small tree
• Dense foliage
• Moderate growth rate

Purple Leaf Plum - Bark Color

Bark:

• Purple to black-purple gray with age

Purple Leaf Plum Alternate Leaf Arrangement	Purple Leaf Plum Simple, Ovate Leaves	Purple Leaf Plum Serrate Margin

Foliage:

• Deciduous
• Alternate arrangement
• Simple leaves
• Ovate leaf shape
• Serrate leaf margin
• Purple to reddish purple

Purple Leaf Plum in Bloom	Purple Leaf Plum Inflorescence

• Pink to pinkish white
• 1" diameter
• Blooms before leaf break in the spring
• Fragrant

Purple Leaf Plum - Drupe

• Drupe 1" diameter -- rarely present
• Edible but not particularly tasty

• Best in light textured, well drained soils with adequate moisture
• Full sun provides rich color
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant

• Specimens
• Groupings
• Accent plantings for its colorful foliage

Scale on Purple Leaf plum

Problems:

• Borers
• Scale

• Cuttings
• Grafting

• Has a tendency to be over-used in landscapes today
• Native to western Asia