Purple Leaf Plum Tree

Cistena Plum: Purple Leaf Sand Cherry

Purple Leaf Plum Trees are colorful, fruit-bearing shrubs that look good from spring through fall. This one is the Cistena plum (Prunus × cistena), also called purple leaf sand cherry. It's a cross between a purple leaf plum and the native sand cherry, which is why it goes by both names. The fruits are drupes, a fleshy fruit with thin skin and a stone pit, about the size of a small cherry and dark purple when ripe.

Birds love the fruit, so it's a good choice for a wildlife-friendly yard. The fruit is edible, but fruit set varies, and most people leave it for the birds. Bees visit the blooms in spring, too.

Before You Buy a Purple Leaf Plum Tree for Sale: Notable Characteristics

This purple leaf plum is really a large shrub, but you can prune it into a small tree if you like. It grows upright but spreads out as it matures, stretching its branches wide. You can let it grow naturally if you prefer the sprawl, or prune it into a neater shape.

The Cistena plum flowers in early to mid-spring, covering its branches with small, fragrant pink and white blooms that look a lot like cherry blossoms. The foliage is a rich purple-red color that holds all season, as long as it gets full sun. In shade, the leaves fade toward green.

If you're shopping for a purple leaf plum tree for sale, here's what you need to know. We sell single trees and packs of 5 or 25, in sizes from 1 to 4 feet tall. It's hardy in USDA zones 2 through 8 and grows 6 to 10 feet tall with a similar width. Plant it in full sun and well-drained soil. It handles most soil types but doesn't like wet feet. Space plants 3 to 4 feet apart for a hedge, or about 6 feet apart if you want each one to show off its shape. Prune right after it blooms, since it flowers on last year's wood. Watch for borers and Japanese beetles. It's not a long-lived shrub, often lasting 10 to 15 years, but it grows quickly and gives you plenty of color in that time.

This plant ships bare root. Soak the roots for a couple of hours, then plant it at the same depth it grew at the nursery. Look for the soil line on the stem. Water deeply, add mulch, and keep it watered through the first season if rain falls short. By its second spring, most plants bloom, with pink blossoms against those deep purple leaves.

Planting & Growing Information

Ships: Ships Between November 15–29
Planting Zone: USDA Zone 2–8
Height at Maturity: 6–10 Feet
Water Needs: Moderate
Sun or Shade: Full sun
Bloom Season: March–April
Care: Plant in well-drained soil; it doesn't like wet feet. Water weekly through the first growing season, then during dry spells. Prune after it blooms, since it flowers on old wood. Keep an eye out for borers and Japanese beetles.
Exposure: Full sun. At least 6 hours of direct sun helps maintain the deep purple-red of leaves; in shade, they fade to green.
Plant Attributes: Purple-red foliage all season, Fragrant pink spring flowers, Fruit feeds birds

For more tips on choosing, planting, and caring for ornamental trees, explore our guide to small ornamental trees. You can also browse our collection of trees to discover more varieties that add seasonal color, shade, and beauty to your landscape.