Purple-leaf (or red-leaf) plums are widely planted as garden or streetside specimens. At least ten named varieties are sold, varying somewhat in form, leaf color, and intensity of leaf color. Although many cultivars are advertised as non-fruiting, they almost all will set some fruit after blooming.
Prunus cerasifera is commonly called cherry plum. It is native to western Asia and the Caucasus. ‘Thundercloud’ is purple-leaved cultivar that typically grows as a dense, upright-spreading tree to 15-25′ tall. It has become a very popular ornamental landscape tree in large part because its showy purple foliage retains excellent color throughout the growing season. Fragrant, 5-petaled, light pink flowers (to 3/4äó across) bloom abundantly in early spring (April) before the foliage emerges. Serrate, ovate to elliptic leaves (to 2.5äó long) emerge ruby red in spring, but mature to dark reddish-purple. Flowers are followed by small edible fruits (purple plums to 1äó diameter). Ceracifera is derived from the Latin words cerasus (cherry tree) and ferre (to bear).
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