Purpleleaf Sandcherry

Categories: Large Shrubs (Deciduous), Plants, Shrubs

Purpleleaf Sandcherry (Prunus x cistena) – A popular color accent shrub, upright-branched and wide-spreading; small pink flowers in spring are elegant, but the reddish-purple foliage is a standout all season long; needs full sun and well-drained soil, excellent for adding lasting color to a garden.

Characteristics

Average Landscape Height:

7 feet

Average Landscape Width:

5 feet

Growth Rate:

medium

Genus:

Prunus

Species:

x cistena

Flower Color:

shell pink

Flower Period:

in mid spring

Summer Foliage Color:

burgundy

Fall Color:

red

Minimum Light:

full sun

Maximum Light:

full sun

Minimum Moisture:

average

Maximum Moisture:

moist

Plant Form:

upright spreading

Canopy:

leggy

Pruning:

late winter pruning

Pollution Tolerance:

high

Other Species Names:

Cistena Cherry

Branching:

multi-stemmed

Flower Bud Color:

pink

Flower Fragrance:

high

Ornamental Features

Purpleleaf Sandcherry has attractive burgundy deciduous foliage on a plant with an upright spreading habit of growth. The pointy leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding red in the fall. It features delicate fragrant shell pink flowers along the branches in mid spring, which emerge from distinctive pink flower buds before the leaves. The smooth bark and deep purple branches add an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Purpleleaf Sandcherry is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

Planting & Growing

Purpleleaf Sandcherry will grow to be about 7 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.

Purpleleaf Sandcherry

Characteristics

Ornamental Features

Landscape Attributes

Planting & Growing

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Purpleleaf Sandcherry

Characteristics

Ornamental Features

Landscape Attributes

Planting & Growing

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