Cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera) is a deciduous small tree or shrub native to Southern Europe and Western Asia. It is one of the most common wild fruits of its native region, producing numerous rounded, yellow, red, or burgundy-colored sweet juicy fruit in summer and autumn. Cherry plum is also used as an ornamental tree and as rootstock for other Prunus species.
| Common name | Cherry PlumMirabelle, Myrobalan Plum, Purple Leaf Flowering Plum, Purple Leaf Plum, Weeping Plum |
| Botanical name | Prunus cerasifera |
| Family | Roseaceae |
| Species | cerasifera |
| Origin | Southeast Europe to Central Asia and the Himalayas |
| Life cycle | Woody |
| Plant type | Tree |
| Hardiness zone | 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| Sunlight | Full Sun |
| Maintenance | High |
| Soil condition | Clay |
| Soil ph | Acid |
| Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Growth rate | Medium |
| Spacing | 12 – 24 ft. |
| Harvest time | Summer |
| Flowering period | Spring |
| Height | 15 ft. – 30 ft. |
| Width | 15 ft. – 30 ft. |
| Flower color | Pink |
| Leaf color | Green |
| Fruit color | Gold, Yellow |
| Stem color | Gray, Silver |
| Fruit type | Drupe |
| Fruit benefit | Edible |
| Leaf benefit | Showy |
| Flower benefit | Fragrant |
| Garden style | Asian Garden |
| Uses | Naturalized Area |
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Prunus cerasifera is a species of plum known by the common names cherry plum and myrobalan plum. It is native to Southeast Europe and Western Asia, and is naturalised in the British Isles and scattered locations in North America. Also naturalized in parts of SE Australia where it is considered to be a mildly invasive weed of bushland near urban centers. P. cerasifera is believed to be one of the parents of the Cultivated Plum, Prunus domestica perhaps crossing with the sole, Prunus spinosa, or perhaps the sole parent. This would make it a parent of most of the commercial varieties of plum in the UK and mainland Europe – Victoria, greengages, bullace etc.
Wild types are large shrubs or small trees reaching 8–12 m (25–40 feet) tall, sometimes spiny, with glabrous, ovate deciduous leaves 3–7 cm (1–3 in) long. It is one of the first European trees to flower in spring, often starting in mid-February before the leaves have opened. The flowers are white or pale pink and about 2 cm (3⁄4 in) across, with five petals and many stamens. The fruit is an edible drupe, 2–3 cm in diameter, ripening to yellow or red from early July to mid-September. They are self-fertile but can also be pollinated by other Prunus varieties such as the Victoria plum. The plant propagates by seed or by suckering, and is often used as the rootstock for other Prunus species and cultivars.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Cherry plum likes sunshine. As a fruit tree, ample sunlight for photosynthesis is necessary for its growth and to provide sufficient nutrition to develop fruit. It should be planted in a spot that ensures it can receive at least 6 hours of sunlight, and ideally no less than 8 hours of sunlight.
Temperature and Humidity
The purple leaf plum can grow in a climate with cold winters and hot summers. It’s hardy down to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit and can handle the high summer temperatures within its growing zones if it’s adequately watered. Humidity also is typically not an issue.
Watering
You should water cherry plum and adjust the frequency of watering based on its stage of growth, the local weather, and the condition of the soil. Before budding (in mid-spring), it should be watered once. From mid-spring to just before the fall, it should be watered every month. It needs to be thoroughly watered each time you water it, until the water on the soil surface stops draining away. This will ensure that it has sufficient water for growth.
After watering, remember to loosen the soil and remove any weeds in a timely fashion. Stop watering in the autumn and especially in the winter, otherwise it will suffer from frost damage.
Soil
When planting cherry plum, you should select a sandy loam soil or loam that is thick, rich in organic matter, and with a slight to medium alkaline pH of 7-8.5. Avoid planting it in a place where salt and alkalis are concentrated. Additionally, make sure that the soil is moist but drains well. It is best not to grow cherry plum in clay soil.
Fertilizing
Cherry plum likes to be fertilized. A sufficient amount of fertilizer will ensure that it grows healthily and bears fruit. Organic fertilizer is usually used for its base fertilizer. When applying fertilizer, dig a circular trench around the external circumference of the tree crown, at a depth of 38 cm and a width of 28 cm. Apply the fertilizer evenly throughout the trench, then backfill the soil.
Fertilizer should be applied twice a year, the first time prior to blooming, to supply nutrients for the flowers, and the second time when the fruit is growing larger, to supply nutrients for fruit growth and to increase the yield.
Planting Instructions
You can purchase cherry plum saplings in garden centers. Pay attention to two things before planting. First, choose an area of the garden that has a lower altitude to plant your cherry plum. This will help it to acquire enough water because its roots are shallow. Additionally, apply sufficient base fertilizer before planting it, mostly organic fertilizer. Once planted, remember to water it soon after, until the water on the surface of the soil stops draining away. When this happens you have provided sufficient water.
We generally do not sow seeds to propagate cherry plum because the seeds need to undergo post-ripening effects. This means that the seeds are not yet mature when they are harvested. It is only after a period of special treatment that the seeds can complete their biochemical processes and reach the condition of being mature seeds that are able to germinate.
Pruning
Cherry plum sprouts on branches that have strong budding capabilities. However, the branches can easily become overcrowded and need frequent pruning to maintain the shape, air circulation, and light exposure within the tree. This also helps to prevent pests and diseases while at the same time helping the leaves receive more sunlight.
Cherry plum can generate a large amount of fruit without any artificial pollination. Because cherry plum can produce a large number of flowers with a high yield of fruit, to maintain its growth and the quality of fruit, it is recommended that some flowers and fruit be removed to concentrate the nutrients for the remaining fruit. As a result, there will not be a large amount of fruit, but those left will be of higher quality and have an improved flavor.
Propagation
If you have the patience, rather than buying a sapling or young tree from a nursery, you can propagate purple leaf plum from softwood cuttings:
- In the spring when the first flower buds appear, cut a shoot about 1/8 inch in diameter and six inches long with a sharp, clean knife. Remove all leaves except for the top three or four.
- Dip the cut end in rooting hormone and plant it in a four-inch pot filled with damp potting mix.
- Keep the cutting in indirect light outdoors and water it regularly. New growth is a sign that roots are forming.
- Before planting it in the landscape, let the potted sapling grow for a couple of seasons, transplanting it to a larger pot if necessary. The stronger the sapling when you transplant it, the better its chance of survival.
- The tree is native to Asia but most purple leaf plums are cultivars. Growing them from seed is not recommended, because it won’t produce a tree true to type.
Potting and Repotting
Purple Leaf plum is a small-to-medium-sized specimen tree that is meant to be planted outdoors in the landscape and is not suitable for growing in containers.
Overwintering
Purple Leaf plum is hardy to USDA zone 4 and does not require winter protection.
Pests and Diseases
Common pests of Prunus cerasifera include aphids (Aphidoidea), scale insects (Coccoidea), and the plum curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar). Aphids can cause leaf curling and sooty mold due to honeydew secretion. Scale insects may lead to stunted growth and branch dieback. The plum curculio, a type of weevil, lays eggs in young fruit, causing them to drop prematurely. Management of these pests includes monitoring, maintaining tree health, and using appropriate insecticides when necessary. Prunus cerasifera is also susceptible to fungal diseases such as black knot (Apiosporina morbosa) and bacterial diseases like bacterial canker (Pseudomonas syringae). Good cultural practices, such as proper pruning and avoiding overhead watering, can help prevent these problems.
III. Types of Purpleleaf Plum
There are several varieties of Prunus cerasifera, including:
- Prunus cerasifera ‘Thundercloud’: This variety features deep reddish-purple leaves.
- Prunus cerasifera ‘Krauter Vesuvius’: This variety looks similar to ‘Thundercloud’ but has even darker spring foliage and grows slightly smaller.
- Prunus cerasifera ‘Newport’: The leaves on this tree are a bronze-purple in the spring, deep purple in the summer, and reddish-purple in the fall.
- Prunus cerasifera ‘Nigra’: This tree has bronze leaves in the spring, very dark purple leaves in the summer, and orange-red leaves in the fall.
- Prunus cerasifera ‘Purple Pony’: This is a dwarf variety that only reaches around 10 to 12 feet in height and spread.
III. Uses and Benefits
As one of the earliest flowering trees in Europe, cherry plum has found its way into gardens across the Northern Hemisphere (though it is mildly invasive in parts of Asia). Growers of the cherry plum prize its variety of foliage and flower colors, as well as the early bloom time. These trees are frequently used as specimen pieces, tree borders, and even occasionally as “living sculptures.” It works well in cottage, city, and Japanese gardens, particularly when planted alongside herbs like mint, rosemary, and sage.
IV. Harvesting and Storage
The fruits of cherry plum usually ripen in the early fall and can be picked for eating. If the fruit needs to be stored or transported a long distance, it is better to harvest the fruit before it softens, such as during the late summer or early fall. Note that fruit should be handled gently and, ideally, and the twig should remain on the fruit.
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