This new feature , to be updated quarterly, will profile a tree species used by T.R.E.E. Inc. in its plantings.  The page will automatically
feature the current profile, with previous  profiles archieved and available for review as time goes by.  Check the archives for older
Educational Profiles.  The profile is also included as a flyer in each edition of the Arbor Bio. We hope you will gain useful information
about these native plants and consider using them in your own yards, as well as enchourage your friends, neighbors and relatives to use
them.

T.R.E.E. Inc. Educational Profile #9-01 July-December 2001

Purple Leaf Plum
(Prunus cerisifera var “atropurpurea”) –Rose family(Rosaceae)

From the 1950’s until the early 1980’s, cultivated varieties (or “cultivars”) of Purple Leaf Plum made this tree the number one seller in the United States. It has probably since lost this stature to the Bradford Flowering Pear (Pyrus calleryana cv.), and in the southeast, to the Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica).

The popularity of this tree was due in large part to its white or pink spring flowers, vibrant shades of red, bronze, purple, and almost black leaves (dependent upon the cultivar purchased), and ease of cultivation. The tree was a mainstay in the nurseries of former “middle-class” retail giants Sears, J.C. Penney, and Montgomery Ward. In the Tampa Bay area these retail operations carried varieties generally purchased from wholesaler Simpson Nurseries in Monticello, Florida. As the nursery operations of these big three retailers folded by the early to mid 1980’s, the availability and distribution of the Purple Leaf Plum became severely limited. As a result, few examples are currently found in Bay area yards of this once more common tree.

The cultivars:
The Purple Leaf Plum is originally a derivation of the Myrobalan or Cherry Plum, which is native to Asia Minor.  It has been crossed with several varieties of European and American plums (Primarily Prunus pissardi and Prunus cistena) in order to establish variations of the leaf size and shape, leaf color, fruit, and growth habit. It is grown throughout the United States, but performs best in the Pacific Northwest, Mid-Atlantic, and northern parts of the Southeast. The cultivar chosen is an important factor in the tree’s vigor and performance when based upon what geographical area it will end up being planted in.

“St. Luke”: This recently introduced low-chill cultivar was originally found growing in a yard in Plant City, Florida. It is propagated and distributed by wholesaler Chestnut Hill Nursery, of Alachua, Florida,
and might be found at local Lowes or Home Depot retail stores. This is the best variety for the Tampa Bay area. Flowers, which are white to light pink, predictably appear with very little winter chill in March or early April. Slender leaves are bright red turning purple-green or copper by summer. Leaves then turn bright red once again in the mid to late fall, and persist until December. Growth is rapid (2’ to 4’ annually) forming a spreading tree 12’ to 15’ tall.

“Krauter Vesuvius”: This dwarf spreading cultivar (8’-10’) is the darkest of all the Purple Leaf Plums, with leaves so dark purple that they appear black if no sunlight is filtering through them. Light pink spring flowers are sparse.  Fruits of both the “St. Luke” and “Krauter Vesuvius” cultivars are small, inedible, and reddish-purple. This is the second best cultivar for the Bay area.

“Thundercloud”: This was, and may possibly still be, the most popular cultivar of the Purple Leaf Plums.
Bright red upon leaf out, leaves become a coppery red to bronze throughout the summer. This spreading cultivar reaches a mature height of 15’ to 20’, has pink flowers, and produces small edible purple fruit. A few “Thundercloud” Plums can still be seen in some yards in the Bay area, but its presence here has diminished significantly over the past two decades.

“Newport” and “Hollywood”: Neither of these two cultivars has performed well in the Bay area, so not much will be mentioned about them (although “Newport” has a few examples that have grown here reasonably well). Both cultivars are upright with “Hollywood” being the tallest and most prolific edible fruit bearer of the Purple Leaf Plums.

Cultivation: Plant in full sun only in dry to slightly moist soil. Full sun is necessary (coupled with cool weather) to produce the most intense red and purple colors. Once established, very little irrigation is required. Major problems include borers and a short life span (10 to 15 years), but nevertheless, the tree makes for an excellent accent or patio plant, particularly in confined spaces and under power lines.
 

• T.R.E.E. Home Page

• Organization History and Philosophy

• T.R.E.E. Board Members and Directors

• Published Documents

• Project Listing

• Annual Report

• Newsletter

• Membership

• Plant Profile (updated quarterly!)

For more information, email us at treeinc@tampabay.rr.com