Purpleleaf Sand Cherry

Purpleleaf Sand Cherry

Prunus x cistena

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

▲ ▼ flowering plants in spring

▲ ▼ red foliage and pink flowers

▲ flowers

▲ summer plant

Location on campus: in garden area on north side of Meyer Library and south of Kings Street Annex

Prunus x cistena: Purpleleaf Sandcherry

• leaves alternate, simple, ovate with serrate margins; 1-3" long and 1/2 as wide, deep reddish purple throughout their presence, with small glands near base of leaf blade where it joins the petiole
• stems slender, purplish-red when young, becoming gray-brown with age, with prominent lenticels
• flowers single in axils of leaves, about 1/2 -1 inche diameter, pinkish-white, appearing after foliage has emerged in late April to early May; flowers often fragrant
• grows 7 to 10 feet tall and 2 as wide in upright shrub shape; often has stout, vigorous vertical shoots arising from older wood
• prefers full sun to part-shade, moist-well-drained soil
• may get serious leaf disease that causes leaf drop
• prefers colder climates and looks, does better there than here; usually not tolerant of Zone 8 or warmer
• medium to fast growth rate and can be cut back severely (if done properly) to maintain a smaller, more dense shrub shape; generally a relatively short-lived shrub in Missouri due to numerous insect and disease ailments that can attack it