Purple Leaf Plum
Prunus cerasifera 'Atropurpurea'
A striking small tree that combines beautiful pink spring blossoms with deep purple-red foliage that holds its color all season long. This fast-growing ornamental creates dramatic color contrast in the landscape and works perfectly as a specimen tree or in mixed borders. The early spring flowers appear before the leaves, creating a stunning pink cloud effect.
Harvest
N/Ad
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
5–8
USDA hardiness
Height
15-30 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Purple Leaf Plum in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 ornamental-tree →Zone Map
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Purple Leaf Plum · Zones 5–8
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12-24 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: 'Atropurea' white to pinkish flowers, purplish foliage 'Crimson Pointe' 'Krauter's Vesuvius'light pink flowers, dark purplish foliage 'Newport'pale bluish-pink flowers, dark purple to red or red purple foliage 'Nigra'bronze leaves in the spring, dark purple leaves summer, and orange-red leaves fall 'Purple Pony'dwarf variety, 10 to 12 feet in height and width 'Purple Pony'dwarf variety, 10 to 12 feet in height and width 'Thundercloud' pale pink to white flowers, coppery-purple foliage, 'Atropurea', 'Crimson Pointe', 'Krauter's Vesuvius', 'Newport', 'Nigra', 'Purple Pony', 'Purple Pony', 'Thundercloud'. Propagation: Grafting, Seed, Stem Cutting. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The fruit is a smooth, round, yellow, or red drupe that is up to 1.25-inches in diameter and ripens mid to late summer. Cultivars may be reddish-purple fruits. Fruits are not produced in great quantities.
Color: Gold/Yellow, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy. Type: Drupe. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Edible
Harvest time: Summer
Bloom time: Spring
Edibility: The fruits are edible and are used in tarts or jellies.
History & Origin
Origin: Southeast Europe to Central Asia and the Himalayas
Advantages
- +Attracts: The fruits are edible and are used in tarts or jellies.
- +Wildlife value: This is a larval host plant for 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. Insects pollinate the flowers.
- +Edible: The fruits are edible and are used in tarts or jellies.
- +Low maintenance
Considerations
- -Toxic (Leaves, Seeds, Stems): Medium severity
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Lavender
Repels aphids and other pests that commonly attack plum trees, attracts beneficial pollinators
Chives
Deters aphids and Japanese beetles, improves soil with sulfur compounds
Marigolds
Repels nematodes and aphids, attracts beneficial insects for pest control
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, attracts predatory insects
Comfrey
Deep roots bring nutrients to surface, leaves provide potassium-rich mulch for tree
Daffodils
Bulbs deter rodents and deer, bloom early without competing for nutrients
Clover
Fixes nitrogen in soil, provides living mulch and attracts beneficial insects
Rosemary
Repels carrot flies and cabbage moths, aromatic oils deter various pests
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill stone fruit trees
Eucalyptus
Releases allelopathic compounds that suppress growth of nearby plants
Sunflowers
Allelopathic effects inhibit growth, compete heavily for water and nutrients
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Moderate resistance, can be affected by plum diseases
Common Pests
Aphids, scale insects, borers, tent caterpillars
Diseases
Black knot, brown rot, leaf spot, canker