Purple-Leaf Sand Cherry

Prunus x cistena

Plant Details:

Plant Type: Shrub
Plant Family: Rosaceae
Plant Description: Multi-stemmed deciduous shrub that may be trained with a single-stem. Leaves are reddish-purple throughout the summer and have serrated edges. Solitary white flowers tinted with pink yield sparse amounts of reddish-purple fruits that are preferred by birds. Grows well in well-drained soils.

Maintenance:

Maintenance Type: Shrub - Thinning
Plant Care: Shrub - Thinning (woody multi-stemmed plants that lose their leaves every winter and look best on older stems): Prune dead, diseased, or rubbing branches. Pruning is best done in late winter to early spring for most shrubs. With spring blooming shrubs, prune after the blooms are spent. Remove up to 1/3rd of the overall shrub, keeping older branches to build up a sturdy, permanent and picturesque framework. Keep in mind that these shrubs bloom directly on older wood or on shoots that come off old wood. Monitor for pests, diseases, or other ailments on a regular basis.

Plant Attributes:

Mature Size: 6-10' tall and wide
Utah Native: No
Plant Select: No
Pollinator Friendly: Yes
Localscapes: Foundation Plant, Perimeter Plant
Foliage Interest: No
Foliage Colors: Burgundy
Bloom Colors: Pink, White
Bloom Seasons: Spring
Bloom Period: Apr - May

Growing Conditions:

Hardiness Zone: 2 to 8
Light Requirement: Full Sun (6+ hrs sun)
Irrigation Requirement:     Moderate (1/2" every 7-10 days)
Salt Tolerant: Unknown
Deer Resistant: Unknown

Garden Location:

  • Irrigation Path
    • Mountain to Tap
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Fall
  • Winter