Prunus cerasifera
Red Plum
Common names: Cherry Plum
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Description
The Prunus cerasifera, commonly known as the red plum or cherry plum, is a summer‑green shrub or small tree that displays dark‑red to purplish foliage throughout the summer, adding color to the garden. Early in the season, often before leaf emergence, delicate pink flowers appear from early to mid‑April, attracting bees and bumblebees. The ‘Nigra’ cultivar is especially valued for its robust ornamental foliage, featuring almost black‑red leaves, and is often planted as a solitary specimen or in hedges. Small, edible stone fruits ripen in late summer, but in many ornamental forms they are inconspicuous and sparse. As with all plums and cherries, only the ripe flesh is edible; leaves, bark, and the kernels inside the stones contain cyanogenic compounds and are toxic, so they should not be consumed and care should be taken in gardens with children.
Care instructions
Plant the red plum in a sunny to partially shaded spot with well‑drained, nutrient‑rich soil, preferably in autumn or early spring. Water regularly during the first two years after planting; thereafter the shrub tolerates normal rainfall and is drought‑tolerant. A lightening cut after flowering, roughly late April to mid‑May, maintains a tidy canopy shape and encourages dense, color‑intense new growth. Apply a mulch layer of compost or leaf litter in spring to supply nutrients and retain soil moisture. For heavy aphid infestations, beneficial insects such as ladybirds and a strong water spray can help; the problem often resolves itself in a typical garden setting.
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, loamy, nutrient-rich
Feeding
Medium feeder
Pruning
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