Purpleleaf Plum is a shrub to a small tree in the rose family that grows 15-25 feet tall and wide with a vase to a rounded shape. The reddish-purple leaves are the attraction to this plant along with the showy white spring flowers. The leaves maintain their color most of the year. They are fairly short-lived and susceptible to insects and diseases. Twigs and fruit drop can be messy. Purpleleaf plum isn't picky about soil type or pH and is moderately drought tolerant once established. Leaf color is best when grown in full sun. Problems: Susceptible to Aphids, Beetle Borers, Caterpillars, Scales and Spider Mites, Armillaria, Root Rot, Rust, Sooty Mold and Verticillium Quick ID Hints: Deciduous tree with reddish-purple foliage all season Leaves with minute glands at the petiole, or may lack these altogether More information on Prunus cerasifera .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Often confused withPrunus cerasiferaPrunus x subhirtella 'Autumnalis'Prunus x yedoensis
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Rounded; Vase
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Obovate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Dentate
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
< 1 inch long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are 2-4 inches long and 1-2 inches wide with alternate leaf arrangement, ovate to oval to obovate, acute, rotund to broadly cuneate, dentately-crenate, glabrate, and is typically reddish-purple all season. Petioles have minute, pimple-like glands at the blade base, or lack them altogether.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Saucer; Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Flowers are solitary, 1-inch wide, 5-petaled, white, fragrant, and bloom just before leaves are borne in the spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
.5 to 1.5-inch fleshy fruits are reddish-purple drupes are produced prolifically and are edible by wildlife and humans.
Bark color
Dark Brown
Bark detail
Bark dark brown and fissured.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Reddish-brown stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Parent plant is from Asia
Wildlife value
Birds and small mammals are attracted to the fruit.
Attracts
Bees; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Drupe
Edibility
The fruit is sweet but rather tasteless
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden
Design feature
Foundation Planting; Screen/Privacy; Small groups; Specimen
Garden tags
#showy leaves #white flowers #small tree #spring flowers #pink flowers #purple leaves #deciduous shrub #fantz #deciduous #shrub #salt tolerant #drought tolerant #problem for cats #problem for dogs #problem for horses #messy #frequent insect problems #frequent disease problems #th-taste #th-wildlife
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Aphids on Ornamental Landscape Plants; Caterpillars That Feed on Trees and Shrubs; Armored Scale Identification and Management on Ornamental Plants; American Plum Borer in Ornamentals
Problems
Frequent Disease Problems; Messy; Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Resistant to
Drought; Salt
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Leaves; Seeds; Stems
Poison symptoms
Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting: brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock.