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
Nativar: No
Plant Select: Unknown
Pollinator Favorite: Yes
Localscapes: Foundation Plant, Perimeter Plant
Evergreen: No
Foliage Interest: Yes
Foliage Colors: Purple, Red
Bloom Colors: Pink, White
Bloom Seasons: Spring
Bloom Period: Apr - May
Erosion Control: Unknown
Ground Cover: No
Edible: Yes
Fire Wise: Yes
Growing Conditions:
Hardiness Zone: 2 to 8
Light Requirement: Full Sun (6+ hrs sun)
Irrigation Requirement: 
Moderate (1/2" every 7-10 days)
Moderate (1/2" every 7-10 days)
Salt Tolerant: Unknown
Deer Tolerant: Unknown
Garden Location:
-
Irrigation Path
- Mountain to Tap
Garden Staff Tips & Insights:
Edibility notes: Small fruits are edible raw, but may be more palatable when cooked. Can be used in any application where a standard cherry would be used, though the flesh-to-seed ratio is much smaller in sand cherries.
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Spring -
Summer -
Fall -
Winter
