Flowering Plum

Prunus cerasifera, the cherry plum or flowering plum, is a small deciduous tree native to Eurasia, widely planted in ornamental forms for its color and early bloom.

In early spring, often before most other trees leaf out, it is covered with delicate five-petalled flowers in white or soft pink. The most popular cultivars, such as 'Nigra' and 'Pissardii', have striking dark purple to burgundy foliage that holds its color through summer.

Small plum-like fruits may follow the flowers. Compact, fast-growing, and adaptable, the flowering plum is a go-to tree for adding seasonal interest and foliage contrast to smaller landscapes.

A small, rounded deciduous tree typically 4-8 m tall.

• Leaves: oval, finely toothed; green in the species but deep purple to burgundy in popular cultivars
• Flowers: small, five-petalled, white to pink blooms in very early spring, often before the leaves
• Fruit: small, round, red to yellow plum-like fruits (cherry plums) about 2-3 cm across
• Bark: dark grey-brown, smooth on young branches
• Habit: dense, rounded crown, fast-growing and relatively short-lived

An easy, fast-growing ornamental for sunny sites.

• Light: full sun, essential for the best purple leaf color and flowering
• Water: moderate; keep evenly moist, especially when young
• Soil: adaptable to most well-drained soils
• Temperature: hardy in zones 4-8
• Feeding: light annual feeding supports growth
• Propagation: species from seed; named purple-leaf cultivars are propagated by cuttings or grafting. Prune after flowering; watch for common Prunus pests and diseases

Native to a region spanning the Balkans, the Caucasus, and central and western Asia, where it grows in woodland and scrub.

Widely planted across temperate regions worldwide as an ornamental street and garden tree, and naturalized in parts of Europe and North America. The species is also a parent of cultivated plums.