Prunus cerasifer is native to southeastern Europe and western Asia and is a member of the rose family, Rosaceae, that also includes apple, almond, and lady’s mantle. The cultivar ‘Nnigra’ grows 15-20′ tall and has dark purple twigs and leaves that emerge bronze in the spring, turn almost black in the summer, and orange to red in the fall. From early to mid spring pale pink, single, cup-shaped flowers .8″ across with 5 petals emerge from dark pink buds and cover the branches before the leaves appear. Red or yellow fruits are occasionally produced and attract birds. Plants are prized for both their foliage and floral display and are a good choice for a specimen plant but can also be planted en mass and used as a hedge or screen. The genus name, Prunus, comes from the Greek word προύνη meaning plum, a prominent member of this genus. The specific epithet, cerasifera, comes from the Latin words cerasus meaning cherry and fero, meaning carry, and refers to the appearance of the fruits. The cultivar name ‘Nigra’ is the Latin word meaning black and refers to the leaf color.
Type: Deciduous shrub or small tree
Outstanding Feature: Purple foliage; floral display
Form: Rounded to pyramidal
Growth Rate: Moderate
Bloom: Single pale pink flowers from deep pink buds in early to mid spring
Size: 15-20′ H x 15-20′ W
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained
Hardiness: Zones 4-9
Care: Prune in mid summer if silver leaf is a problem
Pests and Diseases: Aphids, caterpillars,leaf-miners moths; bacterial canker, blossom wilt, silver leaf
Propagation: Chip budding, grafting, softwood cuttings in summer with bottom heat
Photo Credit:
Karen Meyers