Thundercloud Purple Leaf Plum is a colorful small deciduous tree with upright branches and dark purple foliage that emerges coppery purple and turns crimson in fall.  A profuse bloom of fragrant pinkish-white flowers coat the bare branches in spring, attracting butterflies. Following the blooms in summer are small edible red fruits.  Best color in full sun and rich moist well-drained soils.  

MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  Low Maintenance. Pests and diseases can be a problem.  Watch for aphids, scale, borers, caterpillars, beetles and spider mites. Potential diseases include leaf spot, dieback, leaf curl, powdery mildew, root rot, and fireblight.  Cherries have weak wood and are susceptible to breakage.

LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Naturalized Areas,  Wildlife Gardens, and Shade Tree.

COMPANION PLANTS:   Lilac, Viburnum, Coneflower

IMAGES: Photoset by David J. Stang, (1) Prunus cerasifera Thundercloud 10zz, CC BY-SA 4.0, (2) Prunus cerasifera Thundercloud 16zz, CC BY-SA 4.0, (3) Prunus cerasifera Thundercloud 18zz, CC BY-SA 4.0, (4) Prunus cerasifera Thundercloud 2zz, CC BY-SA 4.0, (5) Stang, Prunus cerasifera Thundercloud 6zz, CC BY-SA 4.0

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.