Small (15-25 feet), short-lived ornamental plum tree
Native to Southeastern Europe and Central Asia.
Short, dense branches with a vase-shaped form.
Leaves are small, ovate and toothed.
Highly attractive leaves, flowers and fragrance.
Requires full sun and good drainage, but grows in most soil conditions.
Small, reddish-purple fruit eaten by songbirds. Also hosts Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) larvae.
Very susceptible to insects including borers, aphids, and caterpillers, as well as diseases such as black knot, leaf spot, die back and root rot.
Sentimental and Symbolic Value
Symbolic of change and new beginnings, as the tree blossoms towards the very end of winter and heralds the coming of spring. Because of their resiliency in braving the winter cold, they also symbolize perserverance and hope.
Chinese traditions hold that the cherry plum is a symbol of warmth and light as its fragrance "lights the world from the bitterness and coldness of winter". Along with pine and bamboo the plum is one of the suihan sanyou (歲寒三友), or "Three Friends of Winter", a Chinese artistic motif depicting the only three plants that flourish during the country's long, harsh winters. This is a distinct but related motif to the Four Gentlemen, of which the cherry plum is also part of and can be read about here.
Specimen photographed found on Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Part of the Urban Ornamental Plants assignment (10/27/2021)
Plant History and Etymology
Prunus means "plum" in Latin, and cerasifera references the city of Cerasus (modern-day Giresun, Turkey), which itself means "cherry plum" after the fact that it grew commonly there. Though native to southeastern Europe, from the Caucasus west to the Balkans, and western Asia, it had naturalized throughout most of the Old World centuries ago and is also naturalized in parts of North America. Cherry plum are a staple in Georgian cuisine, including being used in chakapuli (ჩაქაფული), a beef stew; tkemali (ტყემალი), a tart cherry plum sauce, and kharcho (ხარჩო), a hearty soup.
Design Considerations
This tree is highly valued for its ornamental qualities. Its form is vase-shaped with a rounded crown and generally remains very tidy looking, making it a good specimen plant in a formal planting. Its leaves deciduous and turn to many vibrant colors in the fall, including gold, red, and most notably deep purple. Certain cultivars exist, such as P. cerasifera 'Atropurea' and 'Thundercloud' which make the foliage more consistently purple and keep it that color for longer periods of time. The flowers are 4-5 petaled, bright pink and white, and very fragrant.
Sources
“Prunus Cerasifera (Myrobalan Plum, Purple Leaf Plum) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.” 2021. Ncsu.edu. 2021. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/prunus-cerasifera/.
“Prunus Cerasifera (Cherry Plum): Go Botany.” 2021. Nativeplanttrust.org. 2021. https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/prunus/cerasifera/.
“Every Plum Tree Has a Story...” 2017. The Present Tree. 2017. https://thepresenttree.com/blogs/tree-meanings/plum-tree-meaning#:~:text=They%20symbolise%20perseverance%20and%20hope,and%20the%20promise%20of%20fruitfulness..
"China: Journey to the East", A British Museum Tour, 2008-2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20091205114504/http://www.britishmuseum.org/pdf/Chinese_symbols_1109.pdf
“Prunus Cerasifera: Sistematica, Etimologia, Habitat, Coltivazione.” 2019. Un Mondo Ecosostenibile. January 25, 2019. https://antropocene.it/en/2019/01/25/prunus-cerasifera/#:~:text=The%20specific%20epithet%20Cerasifera%20derives,that%20produces%20a%20fragrant%20ointment.