Purple Leaf Plum

Purple Leaf Plum (Prunus x blireana) is the classic pink blossom tree for a smaller garden. It grows to about 4.5m tall and 3.5m wide, covers its bare branches in scented double pink flowers in late winter, then holds coppery purple foliage right through summer. Two distinct seasons of interest from one modest tree.

Why you'll love it

• Scented double blossom. Soft pink flowers smother the bare wood in late winter and early spring, carrying a light sweet fragrance you notice from a few metres away.
• Purple foliage all summer. Leaves open coppery bronze and hold their purple tone until autumn, so the tree keeps working long after flowering.
• Sized for a suburban block. About 4.5m by 3.5m, which fits a front lawn or a courtyard corner.
• Tough once established. Frost hardy, drought tolerant and wind tolerant, with fibrous non-invasive roots that sit safely near paths and paving.

Where it works best

Feature planting. One tree on a lawn or in a front garden carries the whole display. Underplant with something low and plain so the winter blossom reads cleanly against it.

Small gardens. Allow the full 3.5m of width and about 2m clear of a fence line, so the canopy develops evenly.

Driveways and avenues. Planted 4m to 5m apart it makes a matched run that comes into blossom as one, then reads as a purple hedge line through summer.

Growing Purple Leaf Plum in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the deepest leaf colour and the heaviest blossom, while part shade produces greener, thinner growth. It belongs in cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens. It is frost hardy and needs winter chill to flower well, so it is not a subtropical or tropical tree.

Soil. Well drained soil with compost worked through the backfill. It accepts a wide range of soil types but will not tolerate waterlogging, so raise the planting position on heavy clay. Mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers to establish the root system, after which it is genuinely drought tolerant. A complete fertiliser once in early spring is all it asks.

Pruning. Prune immediately after flowering, because next year's buds form on this season's wood. Remove crossing branches and any suckers rising from below the graft. Keep cuts light, since heavy pruning invites dieback in ornamental plums.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in three sizes: 400mm pots, 45L and 100L. The 400mm trees are young grafted plants, a slim single trunk with a small head, and they blossom within a season or two. The 45L and 100L trees are advanced and look established from the day they go in.

Ordered through winter it arrives bare of leaves, which is normal for a deciduous plum and the ideal planting window. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full flowering tree range for blossom through the seasons.
• Read evergreen versus deciduous trees before you commit a key position.
• Compare other deciduous trees.
• See more plants for small gardens.

Common questions

Does it produce fruit?

Rarely, and never in quantity. This is an ornamental hybrid grown for blossom and foliage, so there is no fruit drop to clean off a path or lawn.

Is it safe around pets?

Be careful here. Like other ornamental plums, the leaves and seeds contain cyanogenic compounds and are toxic if chewed in quantity, so clear prunings away from dogs and livestock rather than leaving them on the ground.

Can I plant it near a path or driveway?

Yes. The roots are fibrous and non-invasive, which is unusual in a tree of this size. Leave about 1.5m of clearance from hard surfaces as sensible practice.