Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Purple Leaf Plum
Purple Leaf Plum is an ornamental tree grown for its deep purple leaves. Light pink, fragrant blossoms cover it in early spring, before the leaves come out. It grows upright into a small tree about 15 to 25 feet tall, a good size for shading a patio or seating area. Many trees set little or no fruit, so there is no sticky mess. The flowers draw bees and butterflies.
Best for: purple leaf color in a desert yard, early spring blossoms, light shade over a patio or seating area, and bees and butterflies.
Its deep purple to burgundy leaves are the main reason to plant it. Give it full sun so the leaves keep their color through summer.
Light pink, fragrant blossoms cover the bare branches in early spring, before the leaves come out. Bees and butterflies visit the flowers.
It grows upright into a small tree about 15 to 25 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide. Many trees set little or no fruit, so it shades a patio without a sticky mess. Space trees 12 to 20 feet apart.
In too much shade the leaves lose their purple color. It needs deep watering to get through Valley summers. Peach tree borer can attack the base of the trunk.
- Close row or screen6 ft apart
- Trees in a group12-20 ft apart
Water new trees often while they root in. Once established, water deep and infrequently, soaking the root zone rather than giving light daily sprinkles. Do not let it go dry through summer.
Plant it in full sun. In shade the leaves green out and lose their deep purple color.
Peach tree borer larvae tunnel under the bark at or below the soil line. Check the lower trunk each year and treat early, since borers can kill young trees.
Drops its leaves in winter and leafs out again in spring.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does Purple Leaf Plum get?
It grows about 15 to 25 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide, with an upright shape. Leave room for the full canopy when you plant.
Does Purple Leaf Plum make fruit?
Many trees set little or no fruit. Where fruit does form, it is a small plum about an inch across.
When does it bloom?
It blooms in early spring, before the leaves come out. The light pink blossoms are fragrant and draw bees and butterflies.
Why are my leaves turning green instead of purple?
Too much shade turns the leaves green, so plant it in full sun so the leaves keep their deep purple color through summer.
How much water does it need?
It needs a moderate amount of water. Once it is rooted, water deep and not often, and do not let it go through a Valley summer dry.
Is it good near a patio?
Yes. It is used to shade patios and seating areas, and trees that set little or no fruit leave no sticky mess.
How cold hardy is it?
It is very cold hardy, to about 0°F or colder, far below a Valley winter, so it needs no frost cover.
What is damaging the base of the trunk?
It can be peach tree borer, which attacks plum trees. The larvae tunnel under bark at the soil line, so check the base of the trunk and treat it early.
When is the best time to plant it?
Fall is best and spring is second. Avoid planting in summer, when new trees struggle in the heat.
Purple Leaf Plum for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Purple Leaf Plum is a small ornamental plum tree with deep purple leaves and fragrant light pink blossoms in early spring. Below is what to expect, including size, sun and leaf color, water, flowers, fruit, borers and when to plant.
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Purple Leaf Plum in Phoenix
Purple Leaf Plum is a small ornamental plum with deep purple leaves and fragrant light pink blossoms in early spring. Plant it in full sun and water it deep and infrequently.
How big does a purple leaf plum tree get?
It grows about 15 to 25 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide. Plant trees 12 to 20 feet apart.
Does purple leaf plum make a mess?
Many trees set little or no fruit, so they shade patios and seating areas without a sticky mess.
Why is my purple leaf plum turning green?
Shade is the usual cause, because the leaves keep their purple color best in full sun.
When does purple leaf plum bloom?
It blooms in early spring, before the leaves come out. The fragrant light pink flowers draw bees and butterflies.
When to plant a tree in the Valley
Fall is the best time to plant trees and spring is second, so avoid planting in summer.
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