Purple Leaf Sand Cherry is a deciduous shrub in the rose family that matures at around 8 feet tall and wide. It is a hybrid between an Asian tree ( Prunus cerasifera 'Atropurpurea' ) and a native species (Prunus pumila). This shrub needs well-drained soil and prefers moist rich loams in full sun. It will tolerate some shade but the best flowering and leaf color occur in full sun. It is tolerant of urban conditions, cold winters and hot humid summers. It has a good purplish leaf color throughout summer. The spring flowers give way to purplish drupes that attract birds. It is short-live to about 10 years due to insects and diseases. Plant it in the shrub in the border, as a specimen, near an entryway or as a foundation plant. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Trunk cankers and borers can be particularly harmful. Japanese beetles can do significant damage to foliage. Potential additional insects include aphids, scale, leafhoppers, caterpillars and tent caterpillars. Potential diseases include leaf spot, dieback, leaf curl, powdery mildew, root rot, honey fungus and fireblight. Spider mites may also be troublesome. More information on Prunus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheHydrangea serrata 'Omacha Variegata'Prunus cerasifera 'Atropurpurea'Prunus serrulata